Mounties Nip Behrend in AMCC Action

ERIE, Pa. – Lindsy Sammarco scored seven of her 17 points in in the final 1:34 of the game to lead Mt. Aloysius past Penn State Behrend 66-62 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) women's basketball action on Saturday in the Junker Center.

Sammarco broke a 59-all tie with a three-pointer at the 1:34 mark, before adding a pair of free throws and driving in for the final layup to help the Mounties (3-4, 1-2 AMCC) break a 17-game losing streak to the Lions (3-4, 2-1 AMCC).

Becky Bard went 11-for-14 to lead all scorers with 26 points. She scored 20 out of the 36 points Mt. Aloysius put up in the first half.

Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) posted her first career double-double with a team-best 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to go with three blocks. Aly Eagle (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) had her best outing this season, reaching double-digit figures with 16 points.

With 10 lead changes and eight ties in the game, it was bound to come down to the wire between the conference foes. The Mounties built a comfortable lead at the 14:34 mark of the second half, gaining a nine-point lead on four points from Morgan Brosnihan.

A 6-0 by Behrend cut the lead to 48-45, however Bard grabbed the steal and turned it into a fast-break layup for a five-point edge. Holly Bourquin (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) and Burke exchanged layups, while Bourquin hit two from the charity stripe to even the game at 50-all.

The game would be tied three more times with the Lions taking the lead once, but not for good. Eagle's jumper at 2:18 made it 59-all and then Sammarco took over to give Mt. Aloysius the win.

Bourquin was also in double digits with 13 points.  

The win marks just the second victory for Mt. Aloysius in the all-time series that dates back to the 2000-01 season. The Mounties earned the first win 65-55 and have lost 17 straight since.  

Behrend returns to action on Wednesday at Medaille. Game time is 6 p.m.