Harrison Lilley

Staff Writer

hjl5363@psu.edu

CRESSON, Pa. – In a dazzling display of skill and determination, sophomore guard Morgan Altavilla from Pittsburgh, PA, set a new career-high with an impressive 36 points, guiding the Penn State Behrend women’s basketball team to their 10th conference victory against Mount Aloysius on Saturday afternoon, January 27.

The final score, Penn State Behrend 82, Mt. Aloysius 66, reflects the Lions’ dominance on the court, extending their overall record to 12-6 and maintaining a formidable 10-1 standing in the AMCC (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference). Meanwhile, Mount Aloysius now holds an 8-10 record overall, with a 5-6 record in conference play.

The game witnessed several key moments that highlighted Behrend’s prowess:

• The Lions claimed the initial momentum, securing the first three baskets and restricting Mount Aloysius to just 11 points in the first quarter, ending with a 17-11 advantage.
• Behrend further solidified their lead with a commanding 34-15 run in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a comfortable 41-26 lead.
• Despite a resurgence from Mount Aloysius in the second half, tying the score at 50 with two minutes left in the third quarter, the Lions managed to pull away in the final quarter to secure the victory.

Altavilla’s outstanding performance wasn’t limited to her career-high 36 points. She also notched a career-high in assists with nine and tied her season-high in steals with four. Altavilla’s remarkable stats included a 15-22 shooting performance from the field and 2-5 from beyond the arc. This comes after her previous career-high of 34 points against Alfred State last Wednesday and a consistent streak of delivering 20-plus points in the past four games.

Other standout contributions for Behrend included Madilyn Boyer from Saxonburg, PA, who matched her season-high with 16 points and grabbed a season-best seven rebounds. Rachel Majewski of Erie, PA, chipped in 10 points along with five assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

On the defensive end, Alexis Furyes (Medina, OH) collected five rebounds and blocked four shots, while Rachel Kaulis (McKean, PA) registered eight rebounds.

For Mount Aloysius, Molly Komsack led with 19 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, supported by Annalyn Isaacs and Molly Richards, each finishing with 11 points off the bench.

Behrend’s team effort was evident as they capitalized on Mount Aloysius turnovers, scoring 31 points off 32 turnovers, and outscored the Mounties in fastbreak points, finishing 25-10.

With Altavilla’s stellar performance and a well-rounded team effort, the Lions continue to assert their dominance in the AMCC, leaving opponents in their wake as they aim for further success in the remainder of the season.