NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – With Carlow women's basketball starter Megan Ost putting up 23 points in Tuesday's matchup, New Kensington fell behind 63-39, as they were unable to keep the pace. After this contest, the Lions drop to 1-6 overall, while remaining 1-2 in conference, and the Celtics progress to 3-4 overall.
Down by 12 after the first quarter, the Lions struggled to get back on top and rise above Carlow's offensive efforts. The Celtics got an early start over the Lions as they went on an 11-0 run within the beginning five minutes. The Celtics then produced 20 points, with seven of their players getting on the board. They converted 8 of 19 field goals for a 41.2 percentage, meanwhile, the Lions went 3 for 11.
Ost tallied up eight points in the second quarter, which was enough to assist the Celtics in outscoring the Lions 14-4. The Lions only put in one field goal, while the rest of the points were derived from free throws. The score read 34-12, Celtics, heading into the locker room.
During the third, the Lions gained momentum and placed themselves ahead of the Celtics by just two points. Erika Finn (New Kensington, Pa./ Burrell) scored more than half of those points for the Lions, leading the quarter for the host. Finn drilled in two three-pointers, while the Celtics only went 1-6 in the same category. With 10 minutes remaining, the Celtics were up 45-25.
Going on a nine-point run, the Celtics hit their biggest lead of the game at 5:58. The Lions were down 55-26, but could only make 4 out of 21 shots. Auveonna Perkins (Arnold, Pa./ Valley) managed to knock in seven points and went 3 for 4 from the line.
Deshaya Chavis (Penn Hills, Pa./ Penn Hills), who made most of her points during the last quarter, led the Lions with 10. Finn and Perkins each picked up nine points, and Perkins led with 10 rebounds. Big on defense, Finn and Ryleigh Beck (Saegertown, Pa./ Maplewood) contributed three steals apiece.
Aside from Ost leading the Celtics with 23 points, teammate Delaney Daly also hit double digits with 10 points of her own. Ost was also the leading rebounder, grabbing 10, and Clara Wilson had seven.
The Lions will travel to Penn State Hazelton on Fri. December 6 for their next contest at 6 p.m. Carlow will verse Sienna Heights on Sat. at the Sienna Heights Tournament.
Written by Janet Surma