No. 25 Medaille Uses Second Half to Down Behrend

BUFFALO, NY – Jordan Schrimmel led all scorers with 18 points behind 6-for-7 shooting from the field to lead No. 25 Medaille past Penn State Behrend 74-63 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) women's basketball action on Wednesday night. 

The Mavericks (3-12, 1-0 AMCC) held the Lions (2-3, 0-1 AMCC) scoreless for six and a half minutes that stretched over the end of the first half and beginning of the second half, while using a 13-0 run to take the lead for good and the win. 

Bianca Smiley recorded 15 points and nine boards for Medaille. MameYaa Ankoma-Mensa grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. 

For Behrend, three players scored in double figures led by Holly Bourquin and Amy Oldach with 12 points. Bourquin also tallied seven boards and Oldach dished out six assists. 

It was the tale of two halves in the first conference game for the Lions. Behrend held a double-digit lead on two occasions in the first half, including a 10-0 lead to start the game. 

The Mavericks managed to get on the board at the 15:29 mark off two free throws from Joelle Pollack. A Bourquin jumper on an Aly Eagle assist made it 12-2. 

Kim Pol's three-pointer and following jumper kept the Lions in front with a seven-point lead at 25-18. Behrend kept the steady lead and scored its last bucket of the first half thanks to Sarah Schweitzer to make it 35-30 with 4:27 remaining. 

From there, Medaille scored the next 13 points unanswered and took its first lead on a non-traditional three-point play by Meghan Dougherty with time expiring in the first. 

The Mavericks extended their lead to 57-44 with 7:51 left to play but the Lions attempted a come back scoring eight points in a minute and a half to get within five.

Medaille got 16 points off second chances and 23 points from the bench in the second half to collect their first conference win. 

The Lions return to action on Saturday when they host Penn State Altoona at 2 p.m.