Freshmen Lead Lions Past Thiel

GREENVILLE, Pa. – Ali Goetz (Mars, PA/Mars) scored a season-high 16 points, while Dani Reinwald (Clymer, NY/Clymer Central) registered her third double-double to lead Penn State Behrend past Thiel 52-49 in non-conference women's basketball action on Tuesday night.

The Lions (2-2) made 21 free throws on 33 attempts, proving to be the difference in the game for their second win of the season. Reinwald tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds, going 8-for-10 from the charity stripe.

The Tomcats (0-5) had two players with double-digit scoring, led by Taylor Duchon's 14 points and nine boards. Hannah Stoneman added 10 points.

Behrend never trailed in the game, but the Tomcats kept it close in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a scare in the final five minutes of the game.

Down 46-42, Thiel made back-to-back baskets and forced two turnovers to knot the game at 46-all with 3:40 left. Goetz made her final two points on a layup followed by Reinwald's drive in the paint for another two, pushing the lead back to four points at 50-46.

Duchon hit her second triple of the night at the right time to get the Tomcats within one with a minute on the clock. Thiel needed to foul to get possession back and Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) made both free throws with 15 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Alivia Sidley could not connect on one last attempt at a three pointer with time expired for the Tomcats.

The Lions outscored Thiel in the first two quarters 24-18 and the Tomcats managed to turn the tables in the next two quarters by just three points, but it wasn't enough stop the Lions at the line down the stretch.

Heidi Langhorst (Corapolis, PA/Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) finished with nine points and five rebounds.

Behrend returns to action on Wednesday, December 2 at D'Youville. Game time is 8 p.m.