Bobcats Dodge Lions

GREENSBURG, Pa. – Kayla Dames scored 15 of her 22 game-high points in the decisive second half to lead Pitt-Greensburg past Penn State Behrend 56-45 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats (8-9, 5-5 AMCC) outscored the Lions (2-14, 1-9 AMCC) 32-18 in the second stanza to erase a three-point deficit at the half and post their fifth conference win.

Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) went 8-for-9 from the charity stripe to finish with a team-high 18 points.

Despite the small lead by Pitt-Greensburg in the second half, it came down to free throws in the final minutes. The Panthers shot 6-for-8 from the free-throw line down the stretch to hold off Behrend.

All but two players scored in the first half for Behrend.  After a 6-1 start by Pitt-Greensburg, the Lions used a 10-2 run for their first lead at 11-8. Brittany Kiger (White Oak, PA/McKeesport) put away two layups and Brianna Bayly (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny) drained a triple during the run.

The contest was tied two more times in the opening half. The hosts took a six-point lead with 2:27 left, but Behrend held the Bobcats scoreless after that while reeling off nine points for a 27-24 lead at the break.

The second half was just as close as the first. With the score tied at 33-all at the 15:28, Pitt-Greensburg took the lead for good with a 6-0 run. The Lions pulled within five on two occasions, with the latter coming with 1:03 remaining in the game.

From there, Lindsey McKamish made two from the line followed by two from Dames and one by Brittany Butterworth and Lyndy Baer to make it 56-45.

Kiger tallied eight points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

Behrend returns to action on Wednesday at D'Youville. Game time is 8 p.m.