Penn State Abington used a hot start to take a 19-11 lead after the first quarter before Penn College responded with a strong second period, outscoring the Lions, 20-11. Kayla Herzer sparked a 16-2 run with a layup at 9:06, as Kenni Galbreath, Loyalsock graduate Mia Patterson, Breana Valentine and St. John Neumann graduate Gigi Parlante all contributed in the run before Raeanna Andreas drained a three to put the Wildcats in front, 27-24, with 3:49 left in the half. Two more layups by Parlante gave the Wildcats a 31-30 lead at the break.

Abington leveled the score, 46-46, at the end of the third quarter. Valentine netted the first four points in the final frame and a Kenni 3-pointer pushed the Wildcats out to a 5-point lead, 55-50, with 4:42 to go. Abington pulled within two twice in the final four minutes before Mia Patterson’s free throw with four seconds remaining forced Abington to heave a last second three-pointer to try and force overtime, but the shot rimmed out at the buzzer.

Valentine paced the Wildcats with a game-high 18 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Parlante tallied 17 points and nine boards, while Galbreath and Patterson each added 11 points. Patterson also contributed six rebounds and two blocks and Kayla Herzer provided an important lift off the bench with a team-best 11 rebounds.

Penn College returns to action Saturday hosting Penn State Schuylkill at 1 p.m.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's RaeAnna Andreas looks to pass around Penn State Abington's Naila Newman (21) during a college women's basketball game at Bardo Gym on Wednesday.

Penn College 61, PSU Abington 58

PSU ABINGTON (3-4, 0-1 UE)

Amirah Hackney 7-23 2-4 17, Nia Newman 6-10 2-4 14, Naila Newman 4-9 2-2 10, Amina Reid 3-11 0-0 7, Xenia Gillis 2-5 0-0 4, Layla Reid 3-9 0-0 6, Kylie Frey 0-2 0-0 0, Tramiya Batts 0-0 0-0 0, Tarianda Washington 0-0 0-0 0, Gaziyah Fabian 0-0 0-0 0, Hailey Revak 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-70 6-10 58.

PENN COLLEGE (8-1, 1-0 UE)

Breana Valentine 4-13 9-10 18, Gigi Parlante 7-12 3-4 17, Kenni Galbreath 3-7 2-3 11, Mia Patterson 5-9 1-2 11, Hailey Theuret 0-4 0-2 0, RaeAnna Andreas 1-4 0-0 3, Kayla Herzer 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 20-54 16-23 61.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's RaeAnna Andreas is fouled by Penn State Abington's Naila Newman during a college women's basketball game at Bardo Gym on Wednesday.

PSU Abington 19 11 16 12 — 58

Penn College 11 20 15 15 — 61

3-point goals: PSU A 2-24 (A. Reid 1-6, Hackney 1-11, Ni. Newman 0-1, Na. Newman 0-1, L. Reid 0-2, Frey 0-2, Revak 0-1), PCT 5-19 (Galbreath 3-6, Valentine 1-5, Andreas 1-4, Theuret 0-4). Fouled out: PSU A-Layla Reid; Batts, PCT-none. Rebounds: PSU A 28 (Nia Newman 9), PCT 42 (Herzer 11). Assists: PSU A 12 (Amina Reid 6), PCT 17 (Valentine 6). Technical fouls: PSU A-none; PCT-none. Total fouls: PSU A 21, PCT 15. A: 124.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Gigi Parlante (12) blocks a shot by a Penn State Abington player during a college women's basketball game at Bardo Gym on Wednesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Mia Patterson (34) struggles to control the ball around Penn State Abington's Nia Newman (12) during a college women's basketball game at Bardo Gym on Wednesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Gigi Parlante (12) looks to the basket around Penn State Abington's Amirah Hackney (5) and Nia Newman during a college women's basketball game at Bardo Gym on Wednesday.