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

ENOLA, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto women's basketball team hit the road in it's first game back from Holiday Break on Wednesday evening in a non-conference battle with Central Penn. The Knights did just enough to hold on late in the fourth quarter by a final score of 61-51.

Inside the Box Score

• The Nittany Lions shot a solid 37.7% from the field in the game and 30.8% from downtown on 4-of-13 shooting. Mariah Martin (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) led both teams with 15 points on her way to collecting 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
• Freshman guard Grace Banfe (Greencastle, Pa. / Shalom Christian Academy) also finished in double figures with 10 points while Kara Newell (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) chipped in eight along with seven assists.
• Central Penn forced Mont Alto into 28 turnovers and were able to score 27 points off the miscues. The Knights shot 40.3% from the field and had a trio of 13-point scorers.
• Ja'Lynn Burton-Jones, Leana Borreli and Tahniyaah Jackson each achieved the feat.

How it Happened

• After a low scoring first quarter that saw the teams finish the period tied 8-8, it was a tale of three very different quarters by the schools. Central Penn nearly hit all its shots within the second period shooting a 66.7% (10-of-15) clip from the field that helped them to a 30-22 halftime lead.
• Mont Alto used the break to make several adjustments to its defense and it showed especially in the third quarter as the Knights were held to just nine. PSUMA closed out the final 6:55 on a 14-5 run and held a 43-39 lead going into the decisive quarter.
• Central Penn would open the final period on a 11-2 run that saw them retake the lead for good at 49-45. It was as close as the Nittany Lions would get down the stretch with the home teams defense suffocating PSUMA into eight turnovers. The Knights held on for the 61-51 final.

Mont Alto (1-9, 0-7 PSUAC) will play another road game when they travel to Trinity Washington on Monday, January 13. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.