Zielinski Leads Women's Basketball to First Win

STUEBENVILLE, Ohio – The Penn State Behrend women's basketball team captured their first win of the season with a 59-56 victory over Franciscan in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday afternoon.

The win is the first collegiate coaching victory for head coach Christine Slater, who took over the reigns for the Lions (1-11, 1-5 AMCC) this season. Behrend shot a season-best 42.2 percent from the floor and Sadie Zielinski (Erie, PA/ Harbor Creek) tied a career high with 14 points. 

Three other players were in double figures for Behrend. Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) and Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) added 16 and 13 points, respectively, and Fontaine Glenn (West Sunbury, PA/Moniteau) registered 10 in the win.

The Barons (4-6, 2-3 AMCC) also had four players in double-digit scoring. Lacey Huck and Sarah Schriner each posted 16 points.

Not only did Burke lead the Lions in points, but she also drained the go-ahead three-pointers with 30 seconds left to help Behrend secure its first season and conference victory. Woll drained a pair of free throws with 10 seconds on the clock to seal the deal.

The opening half went in favor of the Lions for the first time this year. Behrend took a 26-19 lead into the locker rooms and kept it into the second half until the 7:01 mark. Franciscan went on a 10-3 mark, finishing with a Schriner three-pointer to give the Barons the lead they briefly had in the first half.

At 53-48 with 3:33 remaining in the game, Glenn scored Behrend's next five points to knot it at 53-all and forcing a Franciscan timeout. Schriner hit the back end of two free throw shots and Glenn followed with a good free throw, before Stephanie Pahren made a jump shot with 48 seconds left.

On the next possession, Zielinski nailed a triple on her own for a one-point lead and Woll gave the Lions a three-point lead to force a long shot from the Barons that missed with seven seconds showing.

Brittany Kiger led all players with 11 rebounds.

Behrend returns to action tomorrow at Pitt-Greensburg. Game time is 2 p.m.