PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Amanda Sahhar hit the game-winning jumper off a pass from Mame Yaa Ankoma-Mensa with 20 seconds left on the clock to help second-seed Medaille edge No. 3 Penn State Behrend 60-59 in the semifinals of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships on Friday night.
Following a 30-second timeout, the Lions' (19-7) Kim Pol was fouled on the inbounds pass and sent to the line for two with four seconds showing. Pol missed the first free throw and consequently the second and Ankoma-Mensa came up with the ball to secure the Mavs (22-3) return trip to the championship game tomorrow against La Roche.
Amy Oldach had a game-high 22 points, six rebounds and four assists for Behrend. Holly Bourquin tallied 12 points and nine boards, while Emily Detsch added 10 points.
Sahhar finished with a double-double, scoring a team-best 17 points and pulling in 11 rebounds. She also added four blocks and three assists. Bianca Smiley matched Sahhar's blocks with four total and recorded 13 points.
In true championship style, the game involved nine lead changes, seven ties and came down to the final seconds to determine a winner.
After the 16:09 mark of the second half, neither team would hold more than a three-point lead until late in the game. Bourquin's jumper and first field goal of the second half put Behrend ahead 30-22. The Mavs used an 8-0 run to knot the game at 30-all.
Medaille narrowly stayed out in front for the next seven minutes, but three straight baskets concluded by Bourquin's layup with 6:11 left gave the Lions a three-point lead. Oldach's unconventional three-point play made it 54-50 and Kacie Mills responded with a triple, before Jordan Schrimmel got her layup to fall to tie it for a ninth time at 55.
The final Behrend points came from the line, two points from Aly Eagle and two from Oldach. Smiley's layup got Medaille a 58-57 lead and Sahhar had the last say for the Mavericks.
The first half was just as close with the teams playing to a 14-all deadlock halfway through. The Lions broke the next tie (20-all) with an 8-2 run behind triples from Oldach and Eagle to head into the locker rooms with a six-point cushion.
Behrend will now await a bid into the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) postseason tournament.
