LHU outlasts Kutztown in Thriller, 64-61
LOCK HAVEN – Friday night saw the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (6-6, 3-5 PSAC) outlast Kutztown University (4-12, 1-7 PSAC) in a thrilling Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division clash, 64-61 that saw 13 lead changes and 13 ties in regulation play.
Kayla Henderson’s (Philadelphia/Lackawanna College) career night from the field helped propel Lock Haven to the victory. She finished with a game-high 19 points, eight rebounds and she three shots.
Lysa Mealing (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) had another stellar performance as she recorded another double-double. She scored 12 points and brought down 18 rebounds.
Ayanda McGill-Jefferson (Lancaster, Pa./J.P. McCaskey) was also close to a double-double as she brought down 10 rebounds and scored eight points. Madison McHale (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) also hit double digit scoring, tallying 10 points.
The Bald Eagles went into halftime tied with the Golden Bears by a score of 29-29. McHale and Rileigh Devine (Etters, Pa./Red Land) hit two big 3’s late in the second quarter that helped keep LHU close.
The second half continued to be an exciting back-and-forth contest. Lock Haven went on a 7-0 run with under 1:30 to go in the third quarter that helped them take the one-point lead going into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter did not disappoint the home faithful at Thomas Fieldhouse where the game came down to the final seconds. With 15 seconds left, LHU came out of a timeout down by two and McHale hit a tough jumper with two defenders on her to tie up the game, which ended up forcing overtime.
In overtime Mealing hit two clutch free throws with 2:18 left that cut into Kutztown’s lead. With under a minute to play Mealing once again stepped up and hit a jumper from 18 feet to take the one point lead.
Becca Reilly (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) made one of two free throws which pushed the LHU lead to three with 18 seconds left. Devine then stepped up to the line and iced the game by hitting both of her free throws.
On Monday, January 9, LHU will host Millersville University at 5:30 p.m. The Monday-night matchup is the first of three games next week as Lock Haven also plays at Cheyney (Wednesday) and returns home again on Saturday vs. Shippensburg.
