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

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto women's basketball team was unable to pick up its first conference win of the year dropping a close 57-43 road contest to PSU Schuylkill on Friday evening. The loss dropped Mont Alto to 3-6 overall, while PSU Schuylkill improved to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the PSUAC.

Penn State Mont Alto held a 12-11 lead after the first quarter thanks to a hot shooting start from freshman Julianne Noveras (Gaithersburg, Md. / Gaithersburg) who poured in six points on perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field within the quarter. Mont Alto also held the homstanding Lions to a 27.8 percent from the field during the quarter. 

Mont Alto kept it close in the second and only trailed by seven, 29-22 at halftime. Schuylkill would outscore Mont Alto 28-21 in the second half and didn't pull away until late in the fourth quarter enroute to the 57-43 win. Schuylkill held PSU Mont Alto to a little over 28 percent from the floor overall, but Mont Alto's bench did out-score Schuylkill's 18-14.

Alexis Shaffer (Hagerstown, Pa. / South Hagerstown) led the way for Mont Alto with 10 points and 11 rebounds, which was her seventh double-double of the season. Noveras finished with eight points and Angel Schoonover (Woodhull, N.Y. / Jasper-Troupsburg) came off the bench and added eight points and five boards.

Penn State Schuylkill had a trio of scorers finish in double figures with Mackenna Rushannon, Caitria Bown and Alyssa Gerber reaching the feat

The Nittany Lions will play their next game in the New Year on January 6, 2018 in a home non-conference matchup with Villa Maria. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.