LA ROCHE WOMEN CLAIM NINTH AMCC CONFERENCE TITLE

The La Roche University women's basketball team claimed their second consecutive, and ninth overall, AMCC women's basketball title on Saturday afternoon with a 72-59 victory on their home court. 

The Redhawks stormed out to a 9-0 lead to get the game started, with four of those points coming from senior Shaundrea Butler. A Pitt-Greensburg layup by Melina Maietta got the Bobcats on the board in the first. The momentum stayed in favor of the Redhawks for the remainder of the first quarter, as La Roche was on top 19-7 after one. Butler led the Redhawks with six points in the first ten minutes. Pitt-Greensburg wasn't ready to back down, outscoring La Roche 23-20 in the second quarter, with Maietta scoring 11 second quarter points. The Redhawks took a 39-30 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.

La Roche came out of the locker rooms wtih back-to-back buckets to take a 43-30 lead shortly into the third quarter. The Redhawks continued to increase their lead throughout the quarter, outscoring the Bobcats 18-11, as they took a 57-41 lead heading into the final frame. Despite the Bobcats outscoring the Redhawks 18-15 in the fourth, La Roche came out with the 72-59 victory. 

La Roche junior G Danasha Sanders led all scorers with 19 points along with six rebounds. Butler added 15 points and Ayanna Mazyck contributed 12 points, four assists and six boards. Sophomore G Machia Hairston recorded 10 points and a game-high 20 rebounds. 

Pitt-Greensburg senior F Shaquoia McCray scored 15 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the Bobcats. 

La Roche earns the conference's automatic bid to the national tournament.

All Tournament Team:
Ayanna Mazyck, La Roche
Machia Hairston, La Roche
Shaquoia McCray, Pitt-Grensburg
Nadege Durand, Pitt-Greensburg
Kara Haslett, Penn State Behrend
Emily Kelley, Alfred State
Alesia Hamm, Hilbert
Alexis Cannistraci, Penn State Altoona