Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius Women's Basketball team withstood a 4th quarter rally from AMCC opponent Penn State Behrend to complete a 48-44 victory on Monday evening. The game was rescheduled from Saturday January 19th due to Winter Storm Harper.

Both teams had a slow offensive start to the evening as neither team was able to score from the field for the first 4:41 of action. Machala Gibbons (Cairnbrook, PA/Bishop McCort) kick started the Mountie offense with 5 minutes to go as she hit a three from the top of the key. After a Penn State Behrend bucket put the Lions up 5-3, the Mounties held their opponents scoreless for the remaining 4:37 of the period. In the meantime the Mounties used 2 threes from Lea Sammarco (Patton, PA/Bishop Carroll) and another from Gibbons from behind the arc to build a 12-5 lead.

Breana Kendrick (Broad Top City, Pa/Tussey Mountain) continued to build the lead in the second quarter as she converted two lay-ups inside to push the lead to 11. Penn State Behrend was able to cut the lead back to 4 points with 5:35 to go in the half, however a bucket from Gibbons and 6 more points from Kendrick quickly pushed the lead back to 12. Sammarco ended the half with a buzzer beating three from the wing to give the Mounties a 31-16 lead at the halftime break. 

The third quarter was a back and forth contest between the two teams, as Penn State Behrend would work to cut the lead to single digits, only to have it restored minutes later. Rachel Robinson (Leola, PA/Conestoga Valley) led the way in the third period scoring 7 of the Mounties 12 points. They finished the period with another late basket. After Robinson hit two free throws with 4 seconds left, Gibbons stole the ball in the backcourt and fed Hannah Kitko (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley) who was able to make a lay-up before the buzzer to put the Mounties up 13 heading to the fourth.

The Mounties struggled offensively in the final period as they only scored 4 points through the majority of the quarter, while the Lions slowly cut into the lead. Mount Aloysius was able to step up on the defensive end however as they were able to hold the Lions scoreless for the final 4:20 of play. The Mounties missed many opportunities from both the field and the free throw line to extend the lead, but were only able to put the game out of reach on a Gibbons free throw with 5 seconds to go. 

Kendrick led the way for the Mounties as she recorded her 4th double-double of the season. She finished with 16 points while also grabbing 14 rebounds including 8 on the offensive end. Robinson also finished in double figures scoring 11. Gibbons had a strong all-around game. She scored 9 points while also dishing out 7 assists and recording 6 steals.

The win moves the Mounties record to 5-12 with a 5-5 record in conference play. They will take on local rival Penn State Altoona on Wednesday with the game starting at 6:00 PM.