Athletics week in review at Penn State Lehigh Valley

Women's basketball rolls over Penn State Mont Alto, 87-59

The Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team got back to their winning ways with a dominating road win against PSUAC opponent Penn State Mont Alto, 87-59, Dec. 5 in Mont Alto. With the win, Lehigh Valley improves to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in PSUAC play. 

Lehigh Valley led from start to finish with a 44-27 halftime lead. Three players were in double figures led by Andrea Watkins with 18 points, Hannah Bankes with 16 points and Ebony Sanders with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Lehigh Valley will have a final PSUAC game before final exams this Friday against Penn State Wilkes-Barre at 6 p.m. at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Women's basketball improves to 6-3 with win over Penn State Wilkes-Barre

The Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in PSUAC play with a 80-43 victory over visiting Penn State Wilkes-Barre Dec. 8 in Schnecksville. 

Lehigh Valley was led by sophomore center Ebony Sanders with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Hannah Bankes added 11 points and freshman Anaya White chipped in with 10 points. Senior Nikita Brady had a game-high 9 assist to go along with 12 rebounds. 

The Lions will pick back up after Christmas when they will participate in the Moravian College Roosevelts 21st Christmas Classic playing against William Paterson University at noon on Dec. 30. 

Men's basketball downs Penn State Mont Alto, 81-59

The Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team held a 36-30 halftime lead and never trailed in a blowout win over PSUAC opponent Penn State Mont Alto, 81-59, Dec. 5 in Mont Alto. With the win, Lehigh Valley improves to 1-3 in PSUAC play. 

Senior Jonathan Buie dominated the paint with a tremendous performance with 21 points and 24 rebounds. Junior Jeremiah Jenkins added 25 points and KJ Simmons chipped in with 11 points. 

Despite halftime lead, men's basketball falls at Moravian, 81-65

The Moravian College men's basketball team came back from an eight-point deficit to post an 81-65 victory over visiting Penn State Lehigh Valley in nonconference action at Johnston Hall on Dec. 6.

Penn State Lehigh Valley opened up a 4-0 lead to start the game before the Moravian got on the scoreboard. The Nittany Lions eventually pushed their lead to eight points, 20-12, with 11:43 left in the first half. The Greyhounds answered back with a 13-4 run as Moravian had their first lead of the night, 25-24, on a pair of free throws with 4:04 before the intermission. Moravian tied the game at 27-27, but the Nittany Lions scored the final four points of the half to head to the locker room with a 31-27 advantage.

The difference in the game came down to Moravian's shooting behind the three-point line and at the charity stripe in the second half when the Greyhounds were 9-for-18 from long range and 11-of-12 at the foul line. The Hounds shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) overall in the game and finished 12-for-33 on three-pointers and 13-for-16 at the foul line. Moravian's pressure defense forced the Nittany Lions into 20 turnovers in the game, ten in each half.

Penn State Lehigh Valley opened the scoring in the second half and pushed its edge back to eight points, 37-29, just over a minute into the half. The Hounds fought back and pulled within a point, 39-38, on a three-pointer with just under 15 minutes left to play, and Moravian connected on two free throws as Moravian moved ahead, 42-41, with 13:58 remaining. Moravian would connect on a three-pointer at 13:08 to give the Hounds the lead for good, 45-43, and ignite a 17-3 run that ended with another shot from beyond the arc again for a 59-46 advantage with 8:48 remaining. The Blue and Grey would push the edge to a game-high 17 points on a three-pointer with 5:57 to go.

Lehigh Valley was led by Zach Thomas and James Middleton with 12 points apiece.

Men's basketball trips up against Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 74-69

The Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team had five players in double figures, but could not overcome Penn State Wilkes-Barre second half comeback, falling to the visitors 74-69. 

Lehigh Valley held a two point halftime lead 26-24 but Wilkes Barre would storm back late in the second half to claim the PSUAC victory. Junior Zach Thomas led the way for Lehigh Valley with 13 points. James Middleton and Jonathan Buie both added 12 points apiece. Tarvis Gilbert contributed 11 points and KJ Simmons chipped in with 10 points.

Lehigh Valley will have some time off until 2018 when they take on Harrisburg Community College on at 8 p.m. Jan. 4, at Cedar Crest College.

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