Lions can’t slow down No. 1 Villa Maria

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. - The host New Kensington women's basketball team had no answers for Villa Maria on Saturday, as the Vikings cruised to an 80-48 win at Penn State New Kensington. Although Villa Maria connected on just 40 percent of its shots, the Vikings hoisted 80 shots, as opposed to just 43 for New Kensington.

The Lions fell to 2-17 on the season with the setback. Freshman Kierra Rose (Uniontown, Pa/Uniontown Area) paced New Ken with 14 points, with Ryleigh Beck (Sagertown, Pa/Maplewood) and Deshaya Chavis (Penn Hills, Pa/Penn Hills) also scored in double figures, with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Chavis also provided four assists and five steals, both team-bests. Auveonna Perkins (Arnold, Pa/Valley) led the Lions with 14 rebounds

Five players scored in double figures for Villa Maria, which improved to 16-2 on the campaign. Dakaylah Winfield netted a game-high 23 points, as well as five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Additionally, Norvonee Hall posted a double-double, with 10 points and 10 boards, as well as four assists and three steals.

Villa Maria limited New Ken to just seven points in the first quarter, and while the Lions found some offense in the second frame, keyed by Rose's seven points, the Vikings countered with the first of their three quarters that eclipsed 20 points.

Facing a 35-17 deficit at the half, the Lions turned to Beck in the third, as she went 4-4 on field goals in the quarter, all behind the three-point line. While the junior's hot shooting injected some life into the home gym, New Ken never seriously trimmed into the deficit, as Villa Maria won the quarter, 24-20.

With the outcome already decided in the final quarter, Winfield bolstered her impressive outing by scoring 13 points in the stanza.

In total, Villa Maria posted 16 offensive rebounds, and also forced New Kensington into 31 turnovers. Those factors more than compensated for New Kensington frequenting the foul line, as the Lions went 10-27, while the Vikings were just 5-7.

New Kensington returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 5, as the Lions hosts Penn State Fayette in PSUAC play.