WBB 2019-20 Team picture web
Tyler Schueck
73
Penn State Berks PSBW 16-10
87
Winner SUNY Poly SPI 19-7
Penn State Berks PSBW
16-10
73
Final
87
SUNY Poly SPI
19-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Penn State Berks PSBW 22 25 15 11 73
SUNY Poly SPI 26 23 21 17 87

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

WBB falls to SUNY Poly in NEAC Semi's

UTICA, N.Y. - The Penn State Berks women's basketball team had its phenomenal 2019-20 season come to a close in an 87-73 setback to SUNY Poly in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Semifinal Round on Saturday afternoon.

The Nittany Lions finish the year with a 16-10 record, which is the second most wins in a season in program history. The team rode a seven-game win streak to reach the semifinal round, which is tied for the longest such streak in program history.

The Wildcats (19-7), who finished as regular season champions and are hosts for the final four, took a 26-22 lead after the first quarter. SUNY Poly extended its lead to nine points with 1:15 left in the second period. But Lex Schratt made a jumper and got a steal, which led to a layup by Nicole Kopcik to jump start a 7-0 run to close the half and pull the Nittany Lions within two points (49-47).

Kopcik drained a 3-point just 53 seconds into the third quarter to make it a one-point game (51-50), but the Wildcats used a 17-5 surge over the next eight minutes of game play to build a 13 point cushion with 1:28 left in the period. Berks was able to narrow its deficit back down to single digits as Katie Armstrong made a 3-pointer and pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds to bring Berks within eight (70-62).

The Wildcats outscored Berks, 17-7, over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter to build an 18 point advantage. The Nittany Lions held SUNY Poly scoreless over the final 3:32 of play, but Berks could not overcome the deficit in that time.

Kopcik finished with a personal-best and team-high 20 points after shooting 6-of-12 from the floor and going 7-for-7 from the free throw line. In addition, the sophomore guard registered two assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Kylie Herman, who played all 40 minutes, had 15 points, seven boards, four assists, and three steals. Armstrong had her name all over the stat sheet with nine points, seven rebounds, six steals, and five assists. Julia Bookwalter, who was limited by foul trouble, finished with eight points, while Schratt and Abbie Carr each had seven. Sam Brensinger finished with five points, three boards, and two assists, while Sam Huggins had two points and three rebounds.

Molly Burdick led the Wildcats with 20 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Jaida Washington with 15 points and five blocks. Taylor Aybar and Cassidy Albright each chipped in 14 points.

The team had several players etch their names all over the single season record books this season. Schratt tied for the best free throw shooting percentage in program history with an 86.7% (22-for-26). Armstrong has the school record for minutes played (958), while ranking tied for the most steals all-time with 104. She is second all-time with 108 assists and ranking among the top-10 in field goals made (138), 3-point percentage (35.2%), free throws made (90), and minutes per game (36.8). Herman ranks fourth in the season record books in scoring average (19.6) and free throw percentage (80.7%), while ranking fifth in minutes per game (37.7). Bookwalter registered 30 blocks this season, which is tied for the eighth most.

The Nittany Lions will bid farewell to seniors Brensinger, Herman, Huggins, Elise Paskowski, and Schratt. The Nittany Lions made two playoff appearances in the last three seasons and the team's win over Penn State Harrisburg on Tuesday was the program's first playoff win in 10 years. The career record section is littered with this group of seniors. Herman is the all-time leader in scoring average (17.7), fourth in free throw percentage (74.3%), and ranks fifth in total points (1100), field goals made (442), and rebounds (450). She is also among the top-10 all-time in field goal percentage (40.7%), 3-point percentage (29.6%), free throws made (171), assists (201), and games started (60). Brensinger ranks second all-time in 3-pointers made (113) and assists (282), while ranking in the top-10 in points (777), field goals made (288), steals (151), games played (88), and games started (74). Paskowski is sixth all-time with 398 rebounds and fourth with 91 games played.

That group of seniors played a vital role in turning the women's basketball team back into a program that competes for the conference title. The remaining players along with the newcomers brought in by head coach Kristin Hawley will look to use this season as stepping stone for taking this program to the next level.
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