ERIE, Pa. – Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) scored 13 points in the first 13 minutes, making a jumper at the 6:01 to reach 1,000 points for her career and finishing with a game-high 26 points in a 70-60 loss to Pitt-Greensburg in the Junker Center on Saturday.
Burke, needing 12 points to hit the plateau, became the 11th player in program history to accomplish the feat for the Lions (6-19, 6-12 AMCC). Joining Burke in their final home game, Brittany Kiger (White Oak, PA/McKeesport) her ninth and final double-double of the season with 10 points and 16 boards.
The Bobcats (16-9, 12-6 AMCC) had five players in double figures, led by Morgan Biddle's 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Burke led the charge in getting the lead back in the first half after draining a three-pointer and then her bucket to give her 1,000 points for a 24-21 edge. Pitt-Greensburg tied the game at 26-all with three straight free throws and an Emily Nelson jumper, but Burke made back-to-back layups in a matter of 25 seconds at the end of the half for a 30-28 lead.
The Bobcats relied on free-throw shooting in the second half (15-for-18) to create a gap in the score in their favor and secure the win.
After the game was tied for the 10th time at 40-all with 13:04 left, Pitt-Greensburg used an 11-2 run including a three-pointer from Emily Merryman and a 4-for-4 showing from the line to take the lead for good.
At the 7:11 mark, Fontaine Glenn (West Sunbury, PA/Moniteau) hit a jumper and Sadie Zielinski (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek) followed with a three-pointer to get within four at 51-47. Burke's traditional three-point play helped Behrend within three points, but stellar free-throw shooting got the Bobcats back on top to stay with time expiring.
Glenn shot 85 percent from the floor for the game to finish with 13 points.
The Lions finish their season with a 6-19 overall record and 6-12 AMCC mark.