Team Effort Helps La Roche Past Behrend

ERIE, Pa. – The La Roche women's basketball team had all five starters score in double figures to record a 76-60 victory over Penn State Behrend in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Wednesday.

Mackenzie O'Donnell went 9-for-12 from the floor for a game-high 22 points to help the Redhawks (12-4, 9-0 AMCC) remain undefeated in conference play. TiChina Mitchell added 18 points, four steals and four rebounds in the win.

Katie Chess (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) led the Lions (6-10, 5-4 AMCC) with 16 points and five rebounds. Erika Woll (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) added 12 point and five boards.

La Roche shot 52.5 percent from the floor and broke open a one-point game at halftime by outscoring Behrend 23-12 in the third quarter to secure a 12-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.

Three points separated the Redhawks and Lions in the first quarter. Behrend started with two straight field goals, but La Roche pulled ahead 16-10 and then ended with an 18-15 lead to start the second quarter.

Behrend held a two-point advantage in the second period to pull within one at halftime. Chess tied it at 23-all and Sadie Zielinski (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek) drained a three-pointer to regain the lead the Lions once had in the beginning of the first quarter. The Redhawks made the final three of the four field goals of the quarter to take a 33-32 lead at the break.

La Roche never trailed in the third quarter, taking a double-digit lead at the 4:30 mark on an O'Donnell layup at 50-40. That double-digit lead carried over to the fourth quarter and the Redhawks finished 16 points ahead.

Behrend returns to action on Saturday against Franciscan. Game time is 2 p.m.