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LOCK HAVEN, PA - Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) scored a game-high 24 points as the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team defeated Lock Haven 66-47 on the road Saturday. With the win, the Huskies improved to 16-7, 12-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East, and clinched a berth in the 2019 PSAC Tournament. 

Montana continued her sensational start to the month of February with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, and six rebounds. The reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week has posted double figures scoring in nine consecutive games, and is averaging 26.0 points per game in the two meetings with Lock Haven this season. Emma Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) kept her double-digit scoring streak alive with 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting. The sophomore added six rebounds and five assists. Megan Brandt (Lebanon, Pa./Northern Lebanon) was the third Husky to reach double figures with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Huskies would open up a five-point lead late in the first quarter thanks to consecutive jumpers from Darcy Lee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) and Payton Spadaccino (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock South), but the Bald Eagles would punch back with four straight points to trim the Bloomsburg lead to 16-15 after the opening frame.

Back-to-back buckets from Montana and Bella Ricci (Etters, Pa./Red Land) would give the Huskies at 25-21 lead midway through the second period, but Lock Haven would continue to battle, as a late layup from Ayanda McGill-Jefferson would pull the Bald Eagles within two at the break. Montana paced Bloomsburg with eight first-half points, while McGill-Jefferson had 10 points for Lock Haven.

Bloomsburg's tenacious defense was on full display in the first half, limiting the Bald Eagles to just 27 points in the first half on 37.0% shooting. The Huskies had their shooting struggles as well in the opening half, going just 14-of-36 (38.9%) from the field and 1-of-10 from three-point territory.

The Huskies would heat up in the third quarter, however. Leading by just two points early in the period, Bloomsburg would explode for a 14-4 run over the course of six minutes to take a 45-33 lead with 3:06 to play in the third. The Bald Eagles would trim the deficit to eight thanks to back-to-back buckets from Ahnera Parker, but a pair of Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) free throws would give the Huskies a 51-41 lead after three.

The vaunted Bloomsburg defense would take over from there, limiting Lock Haven to just six points in the final quarter. For the game, the Huskies held Lock Haven to just 36.2% shooting from the field, and 2-of-11 (18.2%) from behind the arc. Bloomsburg forced 18 Bald Eagle turnovers, and won the rebounding battle, 39-35.

With the win and a loss by Kutztown to West Chester Saturday, Bloomsburg reclaims sole possession of first place in the PSAC East with just four conference games remaining in the regular season. The Huskies have also earned the right to host a first round PSAC Tournament matchup, and can finish no worse than fourth in the Eastern Division.

The Huskies return home Wednesday to host Cheyney in non-conference action. Bloomsburg will then hit the road for a pair of PSAC East contests at Millersville and East Stroudsburg, before wrapping up the regular season with back-to-back home games against Mansfield and Shippensburg. Wednesday's battle with the Wolves is slated for a 5:30 p.m. tip.

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