Lady Lions fall to Lehigh Valley, 70-60

By: Matylda Zamudio

Allentown, Pa. – The Penn State Beaver women's basketball team suffered its first conference loss this season against PSUAC rival Penn State Lehigh Valley on Friday night.

Two-time PSUAC Player of the Week, sophomore guard Diamond Thomas (Pittsburgh/Carlynton) topped Beaver's scoring list with 19 points, seven rebounds followed by freshman forward Jimya Chambers (Phoenix/Westview), who earned herself a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

1st quarter: At 8:07, Chambers landed Beaver on the scoreboard with a jumper from behind the arch (3-2). At 4:04, the game was within 1 point at 5-6, but then Lehigh Valley scored 7 straight points to pull away with a 13-6 lead. Beaver trailed by 8 points at halftime (20-12).

2nd quarter: Thomas opened up the scoring in the second, scoring a layup only 13 seconds in (20-14), but the ladies of Lehigh Valley shifted momentum back their way offensively, taking at 12-point lead over Beaver at 5:37 (29-17). But another 3-pointer by Chambers, who was assisted by PSUAC Player of the Week freshman guard Alexis Cross (Columbiana) not only cut the deficit to 9 points, it also helped Beaver orchestrate an 11-5 run late in the first half to only trail by 5 points at halftime (36-31).

3rd quarter: As the third began, Beaver looked to forge a comeback as Cross opened up with a jumper from downtown on an assist by Chambers, who assisted on another 3-pointer from Thomas to bring the game within one score (40-37). At 5:42, Lehigh Valley fought back with a 7-0 run to pull away with a double-digit lead once again (52-39). Beaver trailed 57-42 heading into the fourth.

4th quarter: At 3:43, a foul by Lehigh Valley sent freshman guard Emily Keener (Utica) to the free-throw line, hitting one of her two attempts to bring the score to single digits (65-56). Despite fighting until the end, time wasn't on Beaver's side and the ladies couldn't get over the hump from the third quarter and lost by a final score of 70-60 

After today's loss against Lehigh Valley, the Lady Lions sit at a 7-1 record in the PSUAC standings and a 13-3 overall record for the regular season. The Lady Lions are on the road in their next game against conference rival Penn State Brandywine on Saturday, Jan. 26. The game is slated for 1 p.m.