Since losing four of their first give games, the women’s basketball team has gone .500 over their last eight. They were involved in rather competitive conference matchups this past week, winning one and losing one. This past Wednesday, the Lions took to the road to take on the Medaille Mavericks. Unfortunately, Behrend was unable to pick up the win in Medaille, as they suffered from a fourth quarter letdown in which they were out scored by 12. The Lions ventured back home to defeat Pitt-Bradford on Saturday by the score of 84-75, improving to a 5-8 record in the process.

​

The Medaille game was nip and tuck throughout with neither team being able to gain a decisive advantage, that is, until the fourth quarter. In the fourth Medaille was able to gain 30 points, primarily from the charity stripe, to Behrend’s 18. Also, had it not been for the Lions’ 3 for 15 performance from downtown, this game could have been very different. Erika Woll led the Lions with 20 points, going eight of 17 from the field and adding four assists and three rebounds. Emily Kinecki chipped in 11 points and Autumn Byes added 10 points and eight rebounds. That was not enough to overcome Dani Reinwald’s (Medaille) 24 points and 12 rebounds en route to their fourth quarter run and subsequent win.

​

The Behrend women bounced back against the Pitt-Bradford Panthers this past Saturday. The Lions got out to a nine point lead after the first quarter and took a 15 point lead into halftime. The Panthers then went on a tear to outscore Behrend by 13 in the third, only for Behrend to regain momentum in the fourth by playing airtight defense down the stretch and being accurate from the charity stripe. Woll had a career-high 32 points, with 20 of those coming in the first half. She also added six boards and shot 12 of 18 from the field. Ally Dillman scored 17 off of the bench and Kinecki continued to be an offensive presence with 16 points and eight rebounds.

​

After going 1-1 at the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout in Miami, the men’s basketball team picked up two conference victories at Medaille and against Pitt-Bradford at home. Down seven to the Mavericks at half, Behrend scored 46 points in the second half, capped by a Dan Wanker three-pointer with five seconds left to give the Lions the one point victory. Upon returning to the Junker Center, the Lions dominated the Panthers to improve to 11-2 this season and continue their undefeated streak in conference play.

​

After a quick 15-5 run by the Lions to kick off the second half, the Lions and Mavericks went back and forth for the remainder of the game. Behrend held a slim lead until about the seven minute mark, when the Mavericks took the lead back after a couple of free throws from Justice Fagan, who scored 14 points. After exchanging buckets down the stretch, Wanker nailed a wide open three in the closing seconds of the game to give Behrend the win. Five Behrend players recorded double digit points; Niland lead the pack with 18. Wanker was one board away from a double double, as he scored 10 points and collected nine rebounds. Mike Fischer and Justin Gorny both shot well from the field, scoring a combined 29 points on eight of 11 from the field.

​

The Lions ran away with the victory against Pitt-Bradford on Saturday, obtaining their sixth conference win. The Lions took a 14 point lead going into the half and rode that to an authoritative victory. The Behrend defense suffocated the Panthers’ offensive attack in the second half, as the Panthers only scored 20 points on seven of 25 from the field. Behrend’s shooting was impeccable, as they shot 50 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from downtown. Niland again led the offensive attack with 22 points and four assists. Fischer and Wanker again reached double digits.

​

Both the men’s and women’s teams take on Hilbert on the road and Penn State Altoona at home this week. The Hilbert game is this Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the men and 8 p.m. for the women. The Penn State Altoona game takes place at the Junker Center this Saturday with the men playing at 1 p.m. and the women playing at 3 p.m.