Strong Fourth Quarter Propels Lions Past Thiel

ERIE, Pa. – Katie Chess (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) and Ali Goetz (Mars, PA/Mars) tied for a game high with 14 points each to lead the Penn State Behrend women's basketball team past Thiel 76-52 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.

The Lions (1-3) shot a season-best 47 percent from the field and forced the Tomcats (2-3) to turn over the ball 26 times to pick up their first win of the season.  Rachael Razzano (New Castle, PA/New Castle) was the third player in double digits with 13 points.

For Thiel, Taylor Duchon led with 13 points and Jess Vormelker had a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards.

Behrend turned a six-point deficit into a four-point advantage to hold the lead for the first time this season heading into the second quarter. Down 10-7, four different players scored and the defense allowed one more basket in the final three minutes for a 16-12 lead.

Nicole Boyer (Blairsville, PA/Blairsville) drained her first triple this year to knot it at 10-all. Jess Lovell answered with a layup but the Lions came back with six straight points to go ahead by four.

The Tomcats were able to tie the game one more time in the second quarter at 18-all. Another quick 6-0 spurt put Behrend ahead for good for the remainder of the game.

In the third quarter, a three-point play by Razzano gave the Lions a double-digit lead at 39-29 with 8:02 left. That lead grew to 47-32 at the 3:48 mark with the put back from Fontaine Glenn (West Sunbury, PA/Moniteau). Thiel went on a run of its own down the stretch, scoring nine unanswered points to make it 49-43 to end the period.

Behrend buckled down in the fourth quarter, holding the Tomcats scoreless for nearly seven minutes to register 27 points to their nine to end the game with a 24-point lead.

Heidi Langhorst (Corapolis, PA/Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) led the Lions with nine rebounds and added nine points. Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) dished out six assists, three steals and six points.

Behrend returns to action on Saturday against Marietta in the 32^nd Annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shootout hosted by Marietta. Game time is 6 p.m.