Strong Second Half Propels Panthers Past Behrend

ERIE, Pa. – Kaserra Owens posted a double-double with a team-high 13 points and 11 boards to lead Pitt-Bradford past Penn State Behrend 53-46 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) women's basketball action on Wednesday night.

Owens drained a three-pointer with a minute left to give the Panthers (6-2, 2-0 AMCC) a six-point lead, before adding two free throws along with Kennedy Cratty as time expired to secure their second conference win of the season.

Dani Reinwald (Clymer, NY/Clymer Central) recorded her fourth straight double-double and sixth overall with a game-high 14 points and 16 rebounds. She also added four blocks and went 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.

Pitt-Bradford erased an eight-point deficit at halftime, outscoring the Lions (3-4, 1-2 AMCC) 35-20 in the second half for its fifth consecutive win over Behrend.

In a game that was tied nine times, the Panthers broke open the contest at 41-all with a layup from Ali Rinfrette and then a triple from Anna Colebert to take the lead that would not relinquish with 4:11 left to play.

Rachael Razzano (New Castle, PA/New Castle) and Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) each knocked in a free throw, but Owens hit her only three-pointer of the night with 1:03 remaining on the clock to deflate a Behrend comeback.

Reinwald managed to hit the front end of two shots and get her own rebound and was sent back to the line for two more points to make it 49-46. Pitt-Bradford finished the game 4-for-6 from the charity stripe to end with a seven-point margin.

The Lions had a dominant second quarter, holding the Panthers to just four points. Reinwald scoed eight of her 14 points in this quarter and Ali Goetz (Mars, PA/Mars) added five points to give Behrend a 26-18 lead at halftime.

The Lions return to action on Saturday at Penn State Altoona. Game time is 3 p.m.