Second-Half Propels Lions Past Westminster

ERIE, Pa. – Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) and Nicole Boyer (Blairsville, PA/Blairsville) combined for 31 points to help Penn State Behrend defeat Westminster 58-53 in non-conference action on Wednesday night.

Woll tallied 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half, while Boyer tallied 11 of her 13 points in the final 20 minutes to lead the Lions (3-5) to their third win of the season. Boyer also added a team-best seven rebounds, and Woll had a game-high seven steals and six assists.

Emily Fromknecht and Kylie Cook each registered 14 points for the Titans, who have dropped their fifth straight contest.

It was a tale of the two halves. Westminster held Behrend to three field goals in the first quarter for a commanding 21-7 lead. The Lions outscored the Titans in the final three quarters including 38-21 in the second half to earn the comeback victory.

Westminster held its largest lead in the first quarter with an 18-point difference. That lead was shortened to 12 to start the third quarter and eventually diminished by a 15-3 run from Behrend. Boyer drained back-to-back buckets followed by a pair of triples from Ally Dillman (Erie, PA/McDowell) and three free throws by Woll to make it 37-35.

Boyer got another layup after an offensive rebound with one minute left and the Lions made three straight steals to even the it at 37-all with one-minute left. Ashley Russell got the Titans ahead with a trey and Woll was fouled while trying to answer from behind the arc for three chances at the charity stripe. She made the last two to get it at 40-39 to begin the final period.

It did not take long for Behrend to grab its first lead of the game in the fourth. Boyer nailed a triple at 9:24 for a 42-40 lead. Woll's unconventional three-point play at 5:45 put the Lions ahead for good. The senior guard also had four of the last five points by Behrend, while Kourtney Beamesderfer (Rebersburg, PA/Penns Valley) made it a two-possession game with good free throw with six seconds on the clock to seal the win.

The stingy Lions defense allowed 21 points over the final two quarters and forced 30 turnovers for the game. Autumn Byes (Erie, PA/Villa Maria Academy) contributed eight points, six steals and six rebounds.

Behrend returns to action on Saturday at Mt. Aloysius. Game time is 3 p.m.