Story details courtesy of the Penn State Harrisburg Sports Information Department

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Penn State Harrisburg's historic season came to an end with a 70-52 setback to No. 24 SUNY New Paltz in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, March 1. The Lions finish the year with a 17-12 record and a United East title.

 

Ali Lister led the team with 13 points and five rebounds, while Giahny Correa and Jenna Montana tallied nine points each. Ciani Redd-Howard grabbed a team-high 12 boards and both Bailey Oehmig and Jayla Galbreath finished with six points apiece. 

 

The Lions (17-12) trailed by six in the first quarter before Jenna Montana hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 13 all. New Paltz (25-3) closed out the opening frame with four straight and held a narrow 17-13 advantage after one. The home team eventually pulled ahead by eight at 32-24 late in the second quarter but an Oehmig 3-ball at the 1:17 mark kept Penn State Harrisburg within striking distance entering halftime. 

 

The Hawks stretched their lead to double digits for the first time early in the second half but a Lister triple and a Correa midrange jumper cut the deficit it half with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter. New Paltz answered with five straight points to push the lead back to 10 and despite the visitors getting back to within six after a Galbreath 3-pointer and three Abril Bowser free throws, the Hawks closed out the third on an 11-4 run that kept the Lions at arm's length entering the final period.

 

Penn State Harrisburg had no answer for Madison Mullman's hot shooting from beyond the arc and she netted one of her seven triples early in the fourth to make it 60-44 before Julia Sabatino and Abby Korzekwinski added buckets to stretch the New Paltz lead to 20 for the first time with 7:10 remaining. 

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