BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – After a highly competitive first three quarters, Houghton used a strong fourth to defeat the Franciscan women's basketball team, 66-52, Friday evening.
 
Trailing 46-45 going into the fourth quarter, freshman Angela Starre (Carrollton, OH/Carrollton) hit a three just 47 seconds into play to give Franciscan a 48-46 lead. The Highlanders then used a 14-0 run over the next seven minutes to take control of the game and lead 60-48 with just 2:18 to play. Freshman Grace Godich (Bloomingdale, OH/Catholic Central) halted the run as she made a jumper with 1:58 to play thanks to an assist from Tessa Crider (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle).
 
With a 10-point lead, Brooke Lewandowski hit back-to-back layups to give Houghton a 14-point lead, 64-50, with less than a minute left in regulation. Junior Kaitlyn Sonneberger (Edon, OH/Edon) cut it back down to 12 thanks to pair of free throws, but the Highlanders answered with two free throws of their own to seal the 66-52 win.
 
The first three quarters were more closely contested than the fourth as the game remained a one-point game after each quarter. The Lady Barons came out in the first and built a seven-point lead in the first with 4:43 to play as junior Abby Baierl (Marshfield, Wi/Columbus Catholic) made a layup after grabbing an offensive rebound. The Highlanders cut the lead down to one with 3:24 to play but a jumper from Godich pushed it back to three, 13-10, with 3:00 left. Sonneberger extended the lead back to five, 17-12, with 1:31 to play but Houghton closed out the quarter with a 4-0 run to trail just one, 17-16, at the first intermission.
 
Hannah Haskell put a jumper 40 seconds into the second to give Houghton an 18-17 lead, but Franciscan kept battling until senior Gaby De Jesus (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) gave Franciscan back the lead, 26-24, with 2:28 to play before halftime. After a three-pointer and a layup from Houghton gave the Highlanders a 29-26 lead, Baierl sunk a three with 1:01 left to tie the game 29-29 at the break.
 
The lead changed hands three times and was tied twice in the first five minutes of the third until Houghton took the lead 37-36 with 6:16 to play. The Highlanders held the lead for most of the third until Baierl hit another three with 35 seconds to play to give Franciscan a 45-44 lead. Cori Beck answered for the Highlanders and gave them a 46-45 lead with 21 seconds left before the final quarter.
 
Starre gave the Lady Barons their last lead with 9:13 remaining in the fourth before the Highlanders took control of the game.
 
Baierl led the Lady Barons with 16 points and six rebounds while Godich pulled down nine boards and posted eight points. Starre handed out a team-best three assists.
 
Franciscan returns to action after the New Year when the Lady Barons travel to Penn State Altoona for a 6:00 pm AMCC contest on Wednesday, January 3.