McKracken

ERIE — The No. 3 seed Penn State Altoona women’s basketball team overpowered No. 2 seed La Roche University in Friday afternoon’s Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Tournament semifinal game, defeating the Redhawks 70-57 at Penn State Behrend’s Junker Center.

With the win, Penn State Altoona (20-7) moves on to the AMCC championship game Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Lions will face off against No. 1 seed and host school PSU Behrend. Penn State Altoona will be in search of its third-ever AMCC title and its first since the 2001-02 season.

Additionally, Penn State Altoona tied the program’s single-season wins record by securing its 20th overall victory this year. The only other team in women’s basketball program history to achieve 20 wins in a season was the 2009-10 Lions squad that finished the year 20-7.

Penn State Altoona trailed early in Friday’s contest, but the Lions surged ahead and never looked back in a game it led at halftime, 31-29. Penn State Altoona was helped by a strong rebounding performance, posting a 50-34 margin over La Roche (14-12) in rebounds. It was a big reason why the Lady Lions outscored their opponent, 21-14, in the third quarter for a 52-43 lead heading into the final frame.

Jaidyn McCracken led the way for the Lions with her third double-double of the season, finishing with a game-high 25 points and tying for the game lead in rebounds with 12. McCracken hit five of her seven 3-point attempts.

Avana Sayles notched her 17th double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Lanie Wilt had 19 points and eight boards. Halle Kuzminski chipped in with six points and six rebounds.

La Roche (14-12) was led in scoring by J’La Kizart and Jazmine Dunn, who finished with 14 points apiece. Nautica Burwell scored 13 for the Redhawks, and Catherine Kelly added 10 points.

Penn State Altoona, which trailed at the outset 7-0, takes on a PSU Behrend team that it lost two twice during the regular season, by six points back in December and by 10 points just a few weeks ago.

PSU ALTOONA (70): McCracken 7-10 6-6 25, Sayles 6-18 6-6 18, Kuzminski 3-7 0-1 6, Irvin 0-1 0-0 0, Wilt 7-21 4-8 19, Stephens 0-3 0-0 0, Hicks 1-2 0-0 2, Schirato 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-62 16-21 70.

LA ROCHE (57): Nease 2-6 2-4 6, Kizart 6-14 2-6 14, Dunn 6-18 2-2 14, Kelly 3-8 3-4 10, Burwell 5-13 1-2 13, Fisher 0-5 0-0 0, James 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-65 10-18 57.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

PSU Altoona 17 14 21 18 — 70

La Roche 13 16 14 14 — 57

3-point goals: PSU 6-19 (McCracken 5-7, Sayles 0-2, Kuzminski 0-1, Wilt 1-6, Stephens 0-3, Hicks 1-2); La Roche 3-15 (Kizart 0-1, Dunn 0-3, Kelly 1-3, Burwell 2-6, Fisher 0-2). Rebounds: PSU 50 (McCracken, Sayles 12 each); La Roche 34 (Nease, Kizart 8 each). Assists: PSU 7 (2 tied with 2); La Roche 11 (Dunn 6). Attendance: 102