Stifling Defense Helps La Roche Past Women's Basketball

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Danasha Harris scored a game-high 15 points behind 70 percent shooting to lead the La Roche women's basketball team past Penn State Behrend 65-44 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday afternoon at the Kerr Fitness Center.

Lashauna Brothers and McKenzie O'Donnell each recorded a double-double to give the defending AMCC Champions a 17-point lead at halftime and cruise to their second conference win of the season. Brothers tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds, while O'Donnell contributed 14 points and game-high 13 boards.

Sadie Zielinski (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek), Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) and Rachael Razzano (New Castle, PA/New Castle) each posted eight points for the Lions (0-7, 0-2 AMCC).

Zielinski gave Behrend its first lead of the game at the beginning of the opening half with a jump shot to make it 4-3 and Razzano kept the lead with a layup for a 6-3 advantage at the 15:23 mark.

From there, the Redhawks (3-3, 2-0 AMCC) went on a 21-5 run to pull away for a 26-11 lead with 3:27 remaining in the first half. La Roche held the Lions to just five more points for a 17-point lead at intermission.

With stifling defense in the first half continued into the second, allowing La Roche to take a 30-point lead at the 12:38 mark.

Behrend was able to go on a 12-6 spurt to cut the margin slightly in the second half thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Zielinski.

Brittany Kiger (White Oak, PA/McKeesport) pulled down a team-best five rebounds.

The Lions return to action on Wednesday at Bethany. Game tips off at 6 p.m.