Box Score

ALTOONA, Pa. – Playing against a team that won 20 games in 2009-10, the Lycoming College women’s basketball team posted a frantic comeback in the second half, coming within three points with 5:46 left, but Penn State Altoona hit eight free throws in the final three minutes to secure its first win over Lycoming since 2001, 74-64, at Adler Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon in non-conference action.

Down by 15 points with 11:55 left after a 3-pointer from Courtney Carroll, the Warriors (3-2 overall) ignited on an 18-6 run, started by a jumper from sophomore Erin Connaghan (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt). A 3-point play by freshman Julia Antonelli (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford) and a layup by senior Kaitlyn Ober (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) helped cut the lead to single-digits before senior Rebecca Spencer (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy) cut the lead to seven with a layup.

A minute later, sophomore Rachael Scheller (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) canned a trey to make it a five-point game and after a pair of fruitless trips down the court for each team, Spencer hit a layup to cut the lead to three points at 56-53.

However, a three-point play by Janelle Nardozza, who finished with a game-high 25 points, ended the Warriors’ run and the Lady Lions (2-3 overall) never let the Warriors back within six points.

The teams fought through four ties in the opening eight minutes of the game before a 6-0 run gave the Lions a 21-15 lead. The Warriors cut the lead to two points with four straight points before Kaleigh Floyd hit a 3-pointer to give the Lions a five-point advantage. The Lions’ advantage stayed around five points until a closing 9-2 first-half run helped the Lions’ take a 35-23 lead into the half.

In the second half, the Lions kept the lead in double figures for the first 11 minutes of the half before Ober’s layup cut the lead to 54-45 with 8:27 left.

Ober led the Warriors with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks and Scheller added nine points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals. Spencer posted nine points and four rebounds and Connaghan added seven points and three rebounds. Junior Chelsea Shearer (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown) notched six points and two assists, as the Warriors shot 43 percent (23-of-53) in the game).

 Nardozza posted eight rebounds and six assists to go with her 25 points and Carroll notched 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Floyd notched 12 points and two rebounds and Tamara Thomas posted 10 points and four rebounds, as the Lions posted a 32-24 advantage on the glass.

The Warriors will open their Commonwealth Conference season on Wednesday when they travel to Grantham, Pa. for a 6 p.m. showdown against No. 21 Messiah.