Women's Basketball Rallies To Beat Keystone College, 79-76

LA PLUME, PA (Nov. 17, 2015) - The Penn State Lehigh Valley Women's Basketball earned their first win of the 2015-16 season against host Keystone College on Tuesday night, 79-76. The Nittany Lions improve to 1-2 on the season with the victory while Giants fall to 2-1.

Keystone raced out to a 9-1 lead over the first 3:21 of Tuesday evening's contest before Penn State Lehigh Valley closed the first period with a 13-1 run to hold a 22-15 lead after the first quarter. The Giants battled back to within a single point, 26-25, with 5:36 remaining in the second stanza on a layup, but the Lehigh Valley Lions used a 10-2 spurt to lead by as many as 10 points before taking a 39-31 lead into halftime.

Freshman Llaci Henry led Penn State Lehigh Valley with 12 points in the first half while Andrea Watkins netted nine points in the opening 20 minutes of play for the Nittany Lions, who shot a solid, 42.9 percent from the floor in the first two quarters.

Following the intermission, Lehigh Valley extended their lead to as many as 13 points before Keystone scored the final seven points of the third period to trail by six, 59-53, heading into the final 10 minute stanza.

Keystone tied the game at 59-59 by hitting the front end of a pair of free throws with 7:44 remaining in the regulation before Giants Samantha Donahue put Keystone ahead with a jumper at the 7:11 mark. After a three-pointer by the Lions Llaci Henry, the Giants rattled off seven-straight points to claim a 68-62 advantage with 4:27 showing on the clock. The Nittany Lions battled back to claim a 72-71 edge with 2:24 remaining and the two teams would trade baskets giving the host a 73-72 at the 1:47 mark.  Penn State Lehigh Valley hit a pair of free throws on their next possession to reclaim the lead while starting a 7-0 run that would give the Nittany Lions final control of the game.

Watkins finished with a game-high 21 points for Penn State Lehigh Valley, who shots 42 percent from the field for the game and 67.9 percent from the free throw line including a solid, 72.4 percent clip in the second half. Henry finished with 17 points to go along with game-highs of six assists and four steals; Ashley Gordon added a double-double on 15 points and 13 boards; and Lizzy Leiby chipped in with 14 points. Kereece Seuren pulled in 13 boards for the visitors and fell a point shy of a double-double with nine on the night. Penn State Lehigh Vallet shot 36-53 from the foul line compared to the Giants 14-20.

Bryce Garret led Keystone with 14 points while Hall and Maddy Moro netted 13 points apiece. Hall added a team-leading 13 rebounds to post her second double-double of the season. Dyjae Williams hauled in 11 boards and Moro added eight rebounds and two blocked shots for the Giants, who held a 55-50 advantage in rebounding on the night.

Lehigh Valley will travel to non-conference oppponent Lehigh Carbon Community College on Saturday, Nov. 21 for a 1 PM tip-off.

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