Scranton Lady Lions Fall in Conference Opener

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

In a Friday night road contest, the Penn State Scranton Lady Lions basketball squad dropped their conference opener to Penn State Shenango by the score of 62-40. With the loss, Scranton is now on a mini three game losing streak after beginning the young hoops season on a three game winning streak and sees their overall record move to 3-3 and in the all-important league play schedule they are 0-1.

The hometown Shenango ball club had a slim three point advantage, 13-10, at the end of the first quarter before stretching out their lead to 12 points, 29-17, at the half-time break in the action. Shenango outscored Scranton 16-14 in the third stanza to take a 45-31 lead heading into the fourth and final frame where they eventually seized control of the game outscoring their opponent 17-9 to clinch their dominant 22 point triumph by game's end.

Scranton had just one lone player score in double figures during the festivities, as freshman Lexi Corby tallied a game-high 15 points to go along with her eight rebounds, a pair of assists, a steal, and a block in her stalwart 35-minutes on the court. Honorable mention goes to freshmen Lexi Iveson and Jay Contorno, as well as senior Alahnna Balbach who also put up solid efforts in the battle. Iveson and Contorno both just missed out on scoring in double digits on the night, as they each put up nine points in the contest. Meanwhile, Balbach had a game-high 12 boards in her 38-minutes on the floor.

Meanwhile, Shenango had the dynamic duo of junior guard Shar'da Williamson and fellow junior, center Hailee Aguinaga, each score in double figures to lead the way offensively for their squad. Williamson had 15 points on a highly efficient 6-11 shooting from the field, to go along with her nine rebounds, a trio of steals, and a block in her stellar 22-minutes of game action. Last but certainly not least, Aguinaga notched an impressive double-double with her 12 points and 10 boards, shooting a rock solid 6-10 from the field, to go along with her hat trick of blocks, an assist, and a steal in her 25-minutes on the court.

Now veteran head coach Tom McIntyre and his 3-3 Penn State Scranton Lady Lions basketball team will look to bounce back and snap their three game losing streak when they next face off against conference rival Penn State New Kensington in a crucial road tilt on Saturday afternoon with a 1pm tip-off.