ERIE, Pa. – Holly Bourquin led all scorers with 18 points, eight rebounds and season-best four steals to help the Penn State Behrend women's basketball team defeat Pitt-Bradford 54-37 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Wednesday night.

With a 25-19 lead at intermission, the Lions (11-2, 7-1 AMCC) used a 9-0 run to start the second half  for the double-digit lead that would not relinquish to extend their win streak to five straight. The win also marked the Lions seventh in conference play.

Brittany Wilwohl (Erie, PA/Villa Maria Academy) added eight points, including six in the decisive second half.

As a team, Behrend shot 42.6 percent from the floor and was perfect from the line, while the Panthers (5-9, 3-4 AMCC) shot under 30 percent from the field.

In the opening minutes of the second stanza, Bourquin hit back-to-back baskets and Aly Eagle (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) nailed her second triple of the night followed by another Bourquin jumper for a 36-21 lead.

The Lions kept the same pace throughout the half and pulling ahead by 19 points at the 10:20 mark thanks to a Hannah Novotny (Cabot, PA/Knoch) fast-break layup.  Pitt-Bradford made the comeback attempt with an 8-0 run, but Behrend would only allow two more points in the final five minutes and return the favor with an 8-0 spurt for the 17-point win.

The first half appeared to be closer than the latter. The Lions had their largest lead at 17-8 and the Panthers cut the lead to 21-19 with 2:22 remaining. Sarah Schweitzer (Bridgeville, PA/South Fayette)  and Brianna Bayly (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny) each scored with under a minute left to put Behrend up by six at 25-19.

The Lions return to action on Saturday against Franciscan. Game time is 4 p.m.