by Christina Roukas

ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team put an end to its three-game losing streak on Wednesday night in the Adler Arena, when the Lions defeated local Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Mount Aloysius College 61-44.

In the first quarter, Jess Burns (South Fayette, PA/South Fayette) tied the game 3-3 with a three-pointer. After Mt. Aloysius (2-18, 2-7 AMCC) took the lead, Avana Sayles (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) made a jump shot to tie the game once again, 5-5. Down by four later in the quarter, Emma Kitko (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley) connected from the three-point line to put the Lions (9-10, 6-3 AMCC) behind by one, 11-10. Burns once again scored a three with less than a minute to go in the period, and Penn State Altoona eventually ended the first quarter with a 15-13 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, Burns and Sayles scored jump shots to extend the Lions' advantage to 21-15, and a Sayles layup made it 23-15. Mt. Aloysius closed the gap to 25-22 with a minute until halftime, but another Sayles layup helped the Lions to a 27-22 halftime lead.

Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) scored the first points of the second half for Penn State Altoona with her layup that made it 29-24, and Emily Munson (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Regional) followed with a layup to put her team up by seven, 31-24. Burns made another three-pointer to give the Lions a 12-point lead, 38-26, and four free throws from Sayles late in the quarter helped Penn State Altoona to its largest lead of the game, 49-31. By the end of the third quarter, the Lions had outscored Mt. Aloysius 22-9 in the period.

A Sayles jump shot provided the first points of the fourth quarter for the Lions, making it 51-37. The Mounties got to within 12 points in the late stages of the fourth quarter, but Penn State Altoona got another three-pointer from Kitko and two more Sayles foul shots to end the game with a 17-point win.

Penn State Altoona rebounded the ball well against the Mounties, holding a 53-39 advantage in rebounds. The Lions' defense forced 23 turnovers and outscored Mt. Aloysius 21-6 in points off turnovers.

Penn State Altoona's Sayles led all players with 24 points, tying her season-high scoring mark, while also grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. She went 10-for-10 at the free throw line.

Burns contributed 15 points and two assists, and McCracken recorded her first collegiate double-double with 10 points and a season-high 13 rebounds to go along with a season-best seven assists that led players in the game. Kitko finished with a season-high eight rebounds while adding seven points and a team-best three steals.

Mt. Aloysius got 11 points from Chloe Clemons, as well as 10 points apiece from China Jenkins and Karissa Mercier.

The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team heads back on the road to face AMCC opponent Alfred State College this Saturday, February 4. Tip-off is set at 4:00 p.m.