Monaca, PA - One of the most difficult things for a young team to learn is how to close out games. On Tuesday, the Geneva College women′s basketball team found out exactly how hard that can be in a 57-54 loss to Penn State Beaver. The Golden Tornadoes took a one-point lead into the second half and with just over eight minutes left in regulation led by ten points at 49-39. In those last eight minutes, Geneva managed to scored just five more points as the Lions roared back to steal away the victory from the jaws of defeat. The loss dropped Geneva to 1-2 on the season.
Senior Beth DeLuca knocked down a three-point field goal with 8:04 remaining in the second half to give Geneva a ten point lead. Penn State scored 14 of the next 16 points and with 2:55 left in the game, the Lions had taken a two point lead. Chelsea D′Urso tied the game at 53 with a jump shot at the 2:47 mark. Each team exchanged foul shots to knot the score at 54 apiece with 1:11 on the clock. The Lions converted a pair of free throws with 36 seconds left to take the lead and converted another foul shot just four seconds later to extend the lead to three. Geneva had one more chance to tie in the final seconds but a D′Urso three-point attempt bounced out and the Lions escaped with a victory.
If Geneva can look at one thing that proved to be costly on Tuesday night it was 32 turnovers. The Golden Tornadoes shot 35% from the field and converted on five three-point field goals but came up just short. Rachel Rouan led the offense with 14 point while teammates Chelsea Kauffman, Beth DeLuca and Kristland McCracken each chipped in with ten points. Amanda Temple led all scorers with 17 points for Penn State Beaver including two key free throws to give the Lions a lead they would never relinquish.
Geneva returns to Metheny Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon for a 1 pm matinee against Carlow University. The Golden Tornadoes open PAC play with their first ever conference game next Wednesday night when the host three-time defending champion Thomas More.
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
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