LA ROCHE WOMEN LOCK IN TOP SEED FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

With an 18-0 record in conference play, the La Roche University women's basketball team has once again claimed the AMCC regular season title and hosting rights for the final four slated for this weekend. First round games tip off Tuesday evening, followed by the semifinals and championship game on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Tuesday's first round games will feature #6 Pitt-Bradford at #3 Penn State Altoona, while #4 Pitt-Greensburg hosts #5 Mount Aloysius College. Both the Redhawks and #2 Penn State Behrend will receive first round byes.

Three-time defending AMCC champion, La Roche University, is looking for their fourth straight conference title, and their 11th in the past 13 years. Senior G Machia Hairston leads the Redhawks and the AMCC with 13.0 rebounds per game, while also pouring in 17.8 points per game and adding 45 steals and 14 blocks on the season. Junior F Dasja Anderson also averages 17.8 points per game and grabs 6.1 rebounds per game. Junior G/F Makayla Abram averages 15.0 points, shooting 50.4 percent from the floor, while grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore G Jazmine Dunn tops the conference with an impressive 6.0 assists per game and is second with 2.8 steals per game, while also contributing 13.2 points per game. Junior G/F Alexis Robinson rounds out the double figure scorers for La Roche with 12.5 points per game.

With a 16-2 record in conference play, Penn State Behrend enters the tournament as the #2 seed and will receive a first round bye. The Lions are led by the hot scoring duo of junior G Rachel Majewski and sophomore G Morgan Altavilla. Majewski is second in the AMCC with 18.5 points per game, while Altavilla is right behind her with 18.3 points per game. Majewski has added 60 assists and 43 steals on the season, while Altavilla had recorded 97 assists (4.0 apg) and 51 steals (2.1 spg). Sophomore G Madilyn Boyer averages 11.6 points and and 5.4 rebounds per game, while junior F Alexis Furyes grabs a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game to go along with 7.3 points per game and 1.9 blocks per game. 

Penn State Altoona, with an 11-7 record, enters the tournament as the #3 seed. Sophomore F Avana Sayles leads the Lions with 16.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Sophomore G/F Jaidyn McCracken adds 14.5 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Junior G Jordan Bisignani contributes 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.

#4 Pitt-Greensburg comes into the tournament with a 10-8 conference record. Bobcat junior G Melina Maietta ranks third in the conference with 18.4 points per game, while also adding 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Sophmore G Tiana Moracco averages 12.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for the Bobcats. Freshman G Sarah Penrod rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.6 points per game. 

With a 10-8 conference record, Mount Aloysius enters the tournament as the #5 seed. Freshman F Molly Kosmack has had a standout rookie campaign, as she leads the AMCC with 18.6 points per game and 2.7 blocks per game, while ranking second with 12.7 rebounds per game. Freshman G Annalynn Isaacs averages 11.2 points, while Jade Love-Morris adds 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, and Angelina Kohlwaies pitches in with 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Rounding out the field is #6 Pitt-Bradford with a 6-12 record in conference play. Freshman G/F Paige Grotto has shined for the Panthers this season, as she has led her team with 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Freshman G Yasmine Abu-Aiadeh averages 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game while junior G Alexa Ackerman contributes 9.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKET
First Round: Tuesday, February 20
#6 TBA at #3 Penn State Altoona, 7p
#5 Mount Aloysius at #4 Pitt-Greensburg, 6p (double header with men)
Bye:  #1 La Roche & #2 Penn State Behrend

Championship Round at #1 La Roche
Semifinals: Friday, February 23
1pm: #1 La Roche v. winner MAC/UPG
3pm: #2 Penn State Behrend vs. winner of TBA/PSA

Finals: Saturday, February 24 - 2pm