PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Jessica Pitts scored a game-high 20 points, leading four La Roche women's basketball players in double figures en route to defeating Penn State Behrend 72-54 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday afternoon.
Pitts registered 18 points in the decisive first half that put the Redhawks (20-2, 15-1 AMCC) up by 20 points, while forcing the Lions (13-9, 11-5 AMCC) to commit 19 of their 28 turnovers. Pitts also added four assists, three steals and three blocks.
Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) led Behrend with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
La Roche made a statement and got revenge from a 72-56 loss to Behrend a month ago. The Redhawks opened the game with a 17-0 run in the first 6:05 with Pitts scoring eight of those points. Brittany Kiger (White Oak, PA/McKeesport) hit a free-throw to get the Lions on the board at the 13:21 mark.
Burke made the first field goal with a layup two minutes later to make it 21-3.
Pitts extended the lead to 30-9 with another drive to the basket, before scoring the next six out of nine points for a 39-19 advantage at halftime.
The Lions never backed down, but could not recover from the first-half deficit thanks to Pitts.
The Redhawks depended on Pitts and also went 17-for-21 from the charity stripe to make the difference.
Brianna Bayly (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny) and Holly Bourquin (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) ended with eight points apiece.
Behrend returns to action on Wednesday at Hilbert. Game time is 6 p.m.