by Christina Roukas

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season against the Allegheny College Gators by a final score of 65-58 on Wednesday.

Senior Alexis Cannistraci (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) led Penn State Altoona (0-1) in scoring, putting up 18 points while adding five rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Emily Marines (Nanty Glo, PA/Blacklick Valley) had 17 points and five rebounds, and junior Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) scored 10 points and led the team with three steals. Freshman Emily Munson (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Regional) led Penn State Altoona with four offensive rebounds and six total rebounds.

Starting off the game, Penn State Altoona kept a 12-11 lead over Allegheny (1-0), until Sydney Watko scored a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first quarter to give the Gators a 14-12 lead. It was a neck-and-neck game throughout the rest of the first half. By halftime, the Gators led by two, 29-27.

Allegheny had a successful period of scoring the basketball in the third quarter, adding 25 more points to their total. In the fourth quarter, Penn State Altoona started to make a comeback, narrowing the deficit to as little as four, 62-58, on a three-pointer by Marines with 26 seconds left. But the Lions ultimately fell by seven points.

With the loss, Penn State Altoona starts their season in defeat. The Lions return to Altoona for their first home game of the season versus Adrian College on Friday, November 12. Tip-off for that game has been set for 8:00 p.m.

Friday's game, as well as Saturday's contest, are part of the Mountain Valley Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Penn State Altoona and Mount Aloysius College. Friday's games, including a 6:00 p.m. matchup between Mount Aloysius and SUNY Geneseo, will be played at Penn State Altoona's Adler Arena. Saturday's action will take place at Mount Aloysius' Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center.