Steubenville, OH - The Mount Aloysius Women's Basketball team used 13 three pointers to defeat conference opponent Franciscan University on the road by a score of 79-47 on Wednesday evening.

Both teams started the game well, each scoring 10 points over the first 5 minutes. Caroline Showalter (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood Antis) got things started for the Mounties with a jumper inside. Hannah Kitko (Houtzdale, Pa/Moshannon Valley) hit a three on the next possession to give Mount Aloysius the early lead. After Franciscan was able to push ahead of the Mounties, Kitko hit another three with 4:25 remaining in the quarter to start a 9-0 run to finish the period. Breana Kendrick (Broad Top City, PA/Tussey Mountain) hit a jumper inside and Machala Gibbons (Cairnbrook, PA/Bishop McCort) made two baskets in the final minute to put the Mounties up 6. 

Lea Sammarco (Patton, PA/Bishop Carroll) continued the run at the beginning of the 2nd quarter as she started the Mountie scoring with a three from the wing. The Mounties went on to outscore the hosts 25-9 in the period. Rachel Robinson (Leola, PA/Conestoga Balley) and Kendrick each scored 8 points in the period while Gibbons added 6. The Mounties repeated their strong finish from the first period as they finished the half on another 9-0 run, which was capped off by a Robinson 3 point play. This gave the Mounties a 22 point lead at the half.

Franciscan came out of the half time break strong, as they were able to cut the lead to 10 points with 3:36 remaining. Gibbons was able to restart the Mountie effort with 2:39 remaining with an old fashioned three point play. Sammarco hit two more three pointers in the next minute and Gibbons finished the period with a three at the buzzer to put the Mounties up 18 after three. Mount Aloysius finished the game with a strong defensive effort in the 4th as they outscored the Barons 19-5 in the quarter. Robinson scored 10 points in the final frame while Kendrick added two more threes in the period.

As a team, the Mounties shot 53.2% from the field and 44.8% from beyond the arc. Kendrick led the way scoring 22 points. She made 6 out of 10 from the field including 5 of 8 from three. She also led the Mounties on the glass grabbing 8 rebounds. Gibbons finished with 18 points on 6 of 7 shooting. She had a strong all around game as she also collected 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Robinson scored 17 in the game while Sammarco also finished in double digits with 10. 

The win moves the Mounties to 6-14 on the year with a 6-7 record in conference play. The Mounties are in 5th place and will hit the road again this weekend. They travel to Buffalo, NY to take on D'Youville College at 1:00 PM on Saturday. In their first meeting, the Mounties were unable to hold off the Spartans who completed a 4th quarter comeback, and went on to win the game in overtime.