Pitt.-Greensburg 56 , Franciscan 43
Franciscan Starters
Madison Doan, Sophie LaRose, Lauren Arena, Jazzlyn Melnyk, Felicia MacGillivray
Pitt.-Greensburg Starters
Maddie Sitler, Lizzie Penrose, Sidney McCully, Shaquoia McCray, Nadege Durand
How It Happened
Franciscan opened up the 2021-22 season at home against an old conference foe in Pitt.-Greensburg. The veteran Bobcats were able to best the younger Lady Barons 56-43.
After a pair of Pitt.-Greensburg buckets, Franciscan would get their first points off a three pointer by Jazzlyn Melnyk. She would add another basket to score Franciscan's first five points. Two other freshman would register their first collegiate points, as Lauren Arena and Kimberly McDaniels each joined the scoring column. The Bobcats would score 22 points in the quarter, the most by either team in 10 minutes all game, as they took at 22-11 lead into the break.
Melnyk would cut the defecit to single digits, as she hit another three pointer to start the second quarter. Felicia MacGillivray would take over for Franciscan, as she scored her first points with a personal 6-0 run including a three pointer. The Lady Barons were able to cut the lead to six points with under a minute to play, but Nadege Durand clutched up with a late basket to give the Bobcats an eight point lead at the half.
Franciscan was able to cut it to a three point game with a bucket by arena and a three pointer by Sophie LaRose. Madison Doan added her first career bucket to keep it a three point game, as action would be pretty back and forth in the third quarter. Ilena Gonzales made her first career basket late in this quarter, a three pointer, but Durand would answer once more with a late basket to give the Bobcats a 44-37 lead heading into the 4th quarter.
The Bobcats defense really stepped up in the fourth quarter, as they would hold Franciscan to only six fourth quarter points. A 9-2 run over the first seven minutes of the quarter gave the Bobcats a 13 point lead which they would maintain the rest of the way.
Inside the Numbers
- Jazzlyn Melnyk led Franciscan with 14 points and 14 rebounds in her collegiate debut.
- Nadege Durand led all scorers wit 17 points.
- Franciscan out-rebounded Pitt.-Greensburg 43-35.
- Lauren Arena had three steals.
- Ilena Gonzales and Natalie Conner each had a blocked shot.
Up Next
Franciscan remain at home to take on Mount Aloysius on Wednesday at 7pm. The Lady Barons are 3-22 all-time against their former AMCC conference rival, but they have won their last two matchups against them. In their last meeting in February of 2020 the Lady Barons won 62-50 in Steubenville. Abby Baierl led the way with a double double by scoring 19 points and pulling in 13 rebounds. Estelle Leon added a double double of her own with 11 points and 11 rebounds, as Franciscan dominated the glass that night. This game will serve as the season-opener for Mount Aloysius. They were unable to play many games last season with the AMCC canceling conference play due to COVID-19, so it will be interesting to see how the Mounties look coming off the long layoff from consistent games.
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