READING, Pa. — Penn State Berks fell to conference foe Penn State Abington, 80-43, at the Beaver Athletic & Wellness Center, with Berks committing 35 turnovers and Abington scoring 33 points off those turnovers.
Berks started the first quarter by keeping pace with Penn State Abington.
Reagan Thorp and
Abigail Pfander connected early with a jumper and a pair of free throws, maintaining a competitive edge.
Hailey Miller contributed defensively with a block and a steal, as well as an offensive layup, which highlighted the Nittany Lions' efforts in the paint. Midway through the quarter, Berks briefly took the lead after
Abbie Groy's three-pointer and Miller's layup, assisted by
Kiara Altine, pushed the team ahead. Despite these efforts, the quarter concluded with Penn State Abington regaining a narrow advantage, closing the quarter up 18-14.
In the second quarter, Abington capitalized on turnovers, forcing 13 from the Blue & White, which led to several fast-break opportunities and a significant scoring run. Despite early resistance with a jumper from Thorp, the home team struggled to maintain possession and capitalize offensively.
Jalyn Hann and Miller added points in the paint, but Abington's defense was relentless, recording 12 steals. The quarter closed with the Nittany Lions trailing, as Abington extended their lead to 39-22, fueled by effective transition play and points off turnovers.
In the third quarter, Berks struggled to find momentum as they faced a scoring challenge. The quarter began with Abington stretching their advantage through a series of successful plays, including a three-pointer from Hailey Revak at 9:38, contributing to their lead. The Blue & White managed to add points late in the quarter with a three-pointer by Groy at 0:33, but turnovers and missed opportunities hindered their efforts. Throughout the quarter, Berks recorded one field goal and one free throw, while Abington capitalized on fast breaks and bench points to control the scoreboard. The quarter ended with Berks trailing 53–26, as they worked to regain their footing.
Berks began the fourth quarter with a three-pointer from Altine, assisted by
Liz Ruiz, setting the early tone. However, a series of turnovers hindered their momentum, allowing Abington to capitalize with a scoring run, highlighted by Amirah Hackney's layups and a three-pointer that extended their advantage. Despite continued pressure, Berks managed to gain some ground as Miller converted key free throws following technical fouls by the opponent. Ruiz and
Gabrielle Merritt contributed offensively with a jumper and assists, but the team struggled with turnovers throughout the quarter. In the closing minutes, Berks attempted to close the gap with contributions from Miller and Ruiz, but the deficit proved insurmountable. As the clock expired, Berks trailed with a final period score of 80-43, concluding the game.
Miller led the team with 16 points, converting 6 of 15 field goal attempts and adding three steals. Hann recorded six rebounds and contributed two steals, showcasing a strong defensive effort. Merritt finished with five rebounds and tallied three assists while managing one steal. Groy was efficient from beyond the arc, scoring six points by making both of her three-point attempts. Ruiz posted a career-high five points
WHO'S NEXT
The Blue & White's next matchup is against Notre Dame of Maryland University. The game is set for Saturday, Feb. 7, at 3:30 p.m. in Baltimore, Maryland.
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