PENN STATE ALTOONA, ALFRED STATE WOMEN EARN FIRST ROUND VICTORIES

The third-seeded Penn State Altoona Lions and fourth-seeded Alfred State College Pioneers each earned victories in the first round of the AMCC Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, advancing to the semifinal round slated for Friday afternoon at Penn State Behrend. The Altoona Lions cruised to a 63-32 win over sixth seed Hilbert College, while Alfred State defeated fifth seed Mount Aloysius College 62-54.

Penn State Altoona 63, Hilbert 32
Penn State Altoona jumped out to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, going up by as many as 34 points during the second half. The Lions held Hilbert to a 28.0 percent field goal percentage, including limiting the Hawks to a 1-for-14 showing from three-point range. Penn State Altoona also had a big advantage in the turnover battle, forcing 17 giveaways by Hilbert while committing a season-low four itself. 

Avana Sayles put together her 16th double-double of the season for Penn State Altoona, leading all players in the game in points and rebounds with 19 and 14, respectively. Lanie Wilt added 10 points, three assists, and two steals. Jaidyn McCracken provided nine points and six rebounds, Ellie Irvin scored six points with two assists, and Allyana Stephens brought six points and a game-high four assists off the bench.

Hilbert was led in scoring by Kayla Johnson, who finished with 10 points. Learsi Sabala added eight points and five rebounds for the Hawks.

With the win, the Lions advance to the semifinal round of the AMCC Tournament and will play second seed La Roche University at 3 p.m. this Friday in the Penn State Behrend Junker Center.

Alfred State 62, Mount Aloysius 54
The Alfred State Women's Basketball team controlled the tempo and held the lead over the Mounties for the full 40 minutes in tonight's first round of the AMCC tournament. 

Emeline Barton controlled the court offensively and defensively, as she notched a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Jordan Niles contributed 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Taylor Searle and Alyssa Auer both recorded 11 points of their own as well. 
 
Jumping early, the Pios pushed through the first quarter, as Searle sparked the offense with a three-pointer while Auer and Barton added key buckets in the paint. With strong defense and rebounding, ASC led by seven points, 20-13 going into the second quarter. Taylor Benjamin and Searle would knock down key threes in the second quarter, with Barton, Niles and Auer controlling the paint. The Mounties stayed within striking distance, but the Pioneers held a 38-30 advantage going into the half.
 
Alfred State answered every Mount Aloysius push in the third, extending the lead behind Auer's early three and consistent work inside the paint from Niles and Barton. The Mounties managed to cut the deficit to three-points midway through the quarter, but the Pios created chaos and took a 50-42 lead into the final quarter. Mount Aloysius continued to try and find that late break, but ASC responded with clutch inside plays from Barton. The Pioneers held firm defensively in the final minutes to secure the 62-54 victory.

Molly Kosmack led the Mounties with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Mackenzie Barr added 10 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

The Pioneers advance to the semifinals where they will take on the #1 seed, Penn State Behrend at 1:00 p.m.