ALTOONA, Pa. - La Roche was hoping to get the offense back on track after a tough shooting night in the victory on Wednesday, but it wasn't to come about for the Redhawks, as the woes continued and would lead to the first AMCC loss of the season, falling to Penn State Altoona, 61-54, ending a 10 game winning streak over the Lions.
The last time Altoona was able to get the best of La Roche was back on January 22, 2020, a 91-76 victory.
As they have many times throughout the season, the Redhawks jumped ahead early and led 10-3 with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter. The offense would cool off the remainder of the opening frame, being outscored, 8-3, as the Lions cut the deficit down to 12-11 heading into the second quarter.
A 6-0 run by the red and white opened the second quarter to push the lead back to seven points, 18-11, but was countered by an Altoona, 7-0 surge, to tie the game, 18-18, and a total run of 13-3 gave the Lions a 24-21 edge under the midway point.
Another 7-0 La Roche run gave the lead back and the Redhawks would hold the slight lead at 30-28 going into the halftime break.
Out of the locker room, La Roche scored the opening bucket of the quarter, just over a minute into the stanza, then went ice cold offensively, making just one free-throw over the next 4:21, but still managed to be down by just four, 37-33, and would fight to within one, 41-40, as the game went to the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Redhawks would regain the lead 1:30 into the quarter, and with 6:23 remaining, were tied at 48-48. Unfortunately, the offense would go stagnant down the stretch, making just one free-throw over the next 4:55, as the Lions built an eight-point lead, and down the final 6:23, La Roche made four free-throws and only one shot from the field, as they fell to Altoona.
For the game, the Redhawks shot 19-for-63 from the floor (30.2%), 3-for-13 from three (23.1%) and 13-for-21 from the foul line (61.9%).
On the other side, the Lions finished 24-for-68 from the field (35.3%), 5-for-22 from deep (22.7%) and 8-for-8 from the free-throw stripe (100%).
Catherine Kelly would lead La Roche offensively, scoring 14 points, while earning a double-double with 10 rebounds. She was followed by J'La Kizart, who also secured a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Jazmine Dunn was the final player in double figures, scoring 12 points to go alongside six rebounds, three assists and four steals, while Nautica Burwell fell just shy of a double-double with eight points and 14 rebounds.
The final three-game stretch for the Redhawks is all home games and are must win matchups, needing to go 3-0, to be able to host the AMCC Tournament semifinals and finals. The home stand starts on Wednesday, Feb. 11, when La Roche hosts Pitt-Greensburg at 7 p.m.