Kinecki Paces Women's Basketball Past Penn State Altoona

ERIE, Pa. – Emily Kinecki (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) registered a career-high 24 points, knocking down a career-high 10 field goals and matching her best with 11 rebounds to lead Penn State Behrend past Penn State Altoona 81-66 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday.

Kinecki recorded her first double-double of the season and was just one of five players in double figures to help the Lions (6-9, 4-4 AMCC) earn their fifth straight win over the Altoona Lions (5-7, 2-6 AMCC).  Autumn Byes (Erie, PA/Villa Maria Academy) shot 85 percent from the floor (6-for-7) for 14 points, while Kourtney Beamesderfer (Rebersburg, PA/Penns Valley) added 11 points.

Nicole Boyer (Blairsville, PA/Blairsville) and Ally Dillman (Erie, PA/McDowell) each contributed 10 points.

Altoona got a game-high 29 points from Finnley Christine, who drained four triples and grabbed nine rebounds.

The win marked the first time Behrend has outscored its opponent in all four quarters to collect the conference victory.

The start of the first quarter was in favor of the Behrend Lions thanks to an 11-2 opening run. Altoona managed to get within one with a return 14-6 run to close out the first period to make it 17-16.

Altoona grabbed a small 21-19 lead after a layup from Christine with 7:48 left in the second quarter. The ensuing three-pointer by Beamesderfer gave Behrend the lead for good at the 7:30 mark. The Behrend Lions took a four-point advantage into halftime and kept rolling from there.

Behrend outscored Altoona 49-38 in the second half, taking its largest lead at 73-55 with 6:01 left to play in the game.

The Behrend Lions shot 42.3 percent from the floor and 70.6 percent from the charity stripe, while holding a 55-44 edge in rebounds.

Behrend returns to action on Wednesday at La Roche. Game time is 8 p.m.