LANCASTER, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team was edged by Franklin & Marshall 73-71 at the Mayser Center in the season opener on day one of F&M's Terry Greene Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 12.
Giahny Correa poured in a career-high and game-best 20 points, while Olivia Richardson netted 11 points in her Penn State Harrisburg debut. Jenna Montana also reached the double-digit scoring mark with 10 points.
Trailing 46-40 entering the fourth quarter, the Lions (0-1) erupted for 31 points in the final frame. Down eight early in the stanza, the visitors used an 11-2 run that included an old-fashioned 3-point play from Correa and 3-balls from Kendis Butler and Bailey Oehmig to take a 51-50 lead with 6:36 led to play.
The teams traded buckets over the next three minutes before a Montana triple put the Lions out in front 62-60 with 2:12 remaining. The Diplomats (1-0) eventually pulled even before a driving Butler found an open Jayla Galbreath for three to put Penn State Harrisburg ahead 68-65 with 46 seconds left.
Despite the finishing ability of Correa around the rim down the stretch, fouls and F&M's ensuing free throw shooting doomed the Lions in crunch time, as the Dips converted their final eight attempts from the charity stripe, including a pair with 1.4 seconds remaining, to escape their home floor with the narrow victory.
NOTABLES
- Correa turned in a career night, netting 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting off the bench to go along with three steals.
- Richardson finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
- Montana shot 50 percent from the field in tallying 10 points.
- Galbreath was the team's leading rebounder with five. She also added eight points.
- Butler and Galbreath each recorded a team-high three assists to go along with two steals.
- Mikayla Wright chipped in with six points in a reserve role.
- Penn State Harrisburg shot 40.7 percent from the floor but just 50 percent from the charity stripe.
- The Lions tallied were out-rebounded 50-26.
- Penn State Harrisburg forced 21 F&M turnovers.
- The Penn State Harrisburg bench outscored the Diplomat reserves 36-9.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions finish their weekend at F&M's Terry Greene Tournament against Lycoming on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.