Lions Edged By La Roche

PITTSBURGH, Pa.  – Darrian Johnson scored the game-winning free throws with four seconds left to lift the La Roche women's basketball team past Penn State Behrend 62-60 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Wednesday night. 

Senior guard Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) had a desperation three-pointer miss the mark with time expiring to give the Redhawks (8-8, 6-3 AMCC) their sixth conference win. Woll led all scorers with 21 points, going 9-for-11 from the charity stripe. She also added seven rebounds and six steals. The senior guard is now two points away from reaching 1,000 points for her career. 

Johnson made the final two free throws and led La Roche with 14 points. 

La Roche darted out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter at 27-17. Behrend outscored the Redhawks 19-8 for a 36-35 lead at halftime. Autumn Byes hit a jumper to get the Lions ahead 33-32 with 1:41 left in the second quarter. 

In a defensive third quarter, La Roche got a two-point lead after three periods by outscoring the Lions 9-6. Behrend never had the lead in the fourth period. With 20 seconds left to play, Brianne Davis (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) hit a triple to knot it at 60-all. Then the Redhawks made two free throws to seal the win with four seconds on the clock. 

The Lions return to action on Saturday at Franciscan. Game time is 4 p.m.