Comeback Falls Short Against Mid-Atlantic Christian

By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto women's basketball team erased an early eight-point deficit, but in a game that featured eight different lead changes Mid-Atlantic Christian held on for a 79-75 win. Mont Alto forced 15 turnovers against the Mustangs with the game also representing the season-opener for both squads.

Inside the Box Score

• Charity Miller (Greencastle, Pa. / James Buchanan) hit 8-of-19 field goals for a game-high 19 points, added 12 rebounds for a double-double, and had two steals.
• Karley Coleman (Hanover, Pa. / Delone Catholic) also nearly had a double-double with 16 points and nine assists
• Freshman Julianne Noveras (Gaithersburg, Md. / Gaithersburg) had an outstanding debut for the Lions reaching double figures with 17 points, six assists, five boards and a pair of steals.

How it Happened

• Mid-Christian Atlantic held the Lions to 44.9 percent from the field and forced 20 turnovers.
• The Mustangs opened the game on a 8-0 run, but Mont Alto was able to close out the first quarter on a 10-4 run of its own to close the score to 21-20.
• It was a low-scoring second quarter with the teams combing to score 27 total points as Mont Alto also held the visitors to 25 percent from the field although the Mustangs held onto a 35-33 lead.
• Mont Alto controlled the pace of play after the halftime break and it showed with team gaining the lead at 43-41 on a Noveras 3-pointer. The teams would exchange the lead three more times within the period.
• Mid-Christian surged and tied it up at 68 points apiece with 4:43 left in the fourth. The Lions went cold from the field down the stretch with the visitors securing the 79-75 win.
• The Lions stayed within striking distance for most of the game thanks to solid free throw shooting. The team went 9-for-11 from the line.
• Mont Alto's bench outscored Mid-Atlantic Christian 18-15 including 15 points and seven rebounds from senior Alexis Shaffer (Hagerstown, Md. / South Hagerstown).

Penn State Mont Alto returns to action on Thursday, November 9 in a road contest with Harrisburg Area Community College. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.