LA ROCHE SET TO HOST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

After a canceled season a year ago due to the covid-19 pandemic, the AMCC Women's Basketball Championship Tournament returns to the courts in 2022. La Roche University and Penn State Behrend each finished the regular season with 14-2 records, but La Roche edged Behrend on the tiebreak criteria to earn the top seed and hosting rights to the championship tournament. In first round action, #6 Penn State Altoona travels to #3 Pitt-Greensburg, while #4 Hilbert College hosts #5 Alfred State College. #1 La Roche and #2 Penn State Behrend each receive first round byes.

La Roche (14-2), the defending AMCC champion, has been a dominant force in the AMCC in the past decade, claiming eight of the past ten women's basketball titles. The Redhaws are led by senior G Danajah Sanders, as her 13.6 points per game ranks seventh in the conference. Sanders has also recorded 34 steals on the season, which is fourth-best in the AMCC. Freshman G/F Makayla Abram ranks twelfth with 12.6 points per game, while her 49.8 field goal percentage is fifth-best in the league. Senior G, and 2020 AMCC Defensive Player of the Year Ayanna Mazyck leads the Redhawks with 8.1 rebounds per game, while also averaging 12.5 points per game. Mazyck has also recorded 33 steals and 31 assists on the season.

#2 Penn State Behrend (14-2) is looking for their first conference title since 2004. Senior G Kara Haslett leads the Lions with 14.0 points per game, while Caitlin Carnuche is right behind her with 13.9. Haslett's 76 assists on the year rank third in the conference, while her nine blocks are tenth. Carnuche has also grabbed 31 steals and dished out 34 assists this year. Leading Behrend on the boards is senior F Alanna Dibble with 8.9 rebounds per game, while also contributing 12.2 points per game and topping the conference with her 64.4 field goal percentage. 

Entering the tournament as the #3 seed is 13-3 Pitt-Greensburg. The Bobcats boast Preseason co-Player of the Year senior G/F Nadege Durand who ranks third in the conference with 16.0 points per game, while also bringing in 8.9 rebounds per game. Senior F Shaquoia McCray leads the Bobcats, and ranks third in the AMCC, with 10.2 rebounds per game, while her 52.7 field goal percentage also ranks third. Junior G Sidney McCully ranks first in conference play with a 46.7 three-point field goal percentage, draining 28-of-60 attemps on the season, while also ranking fourth in the AMCC with 14.7 points per game.

With a 7-9 record in conference play, Hilbert has earned the #4 seed. The Hawks are looking for their third conference title, after winning back-to-back championships in 2018 & 2019. Sophomore G Ashley Schroeder ranks second in the conference with 16.4 points per game, while also recording 53 assists, 44 steals, and 20 blocks. Sophomore F Macy Kisner averages a double-double on the season, with 13.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while her 73 steals are tops in the league. 

Alfred State (7-9) enters the tournament as the #5 seed, earning the program's first trip to the AMCC playoffs. Sophomore G My'ana Davis leads the Pioneers with 12.6 points and has also dished out 68 assists this year. Junior F Emily Kelley averages a double-double, with a conference-leading 10.7 rebounds per game, while also delivering 12.1 points per game.

Rounding out the tournament field is #6 Penn State Altoona. Senior F/C, and AMCC Preseason co-Player of the Year, Alexis Cannistraci leads the AMCC with 17.0 points per game, while her 20 blocks on the season rank third. Freshman G/F Ellie Matthews ranks fifth in the conference with 9.1 rebounds per game, while also averaging 11.9 points per game. Junior G Sarah Huston has also been a major contributor to the Lions this season, as she averages 10.0 points per game, while also ranking third in the AMCC with 61 steals and fourth with 101 assists this season. 

The winner of the AMCC basketball championship tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the national tournament. 

Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket
First Round: Tuesday, February 22 - 7p
#6 PS-Altoona at #3 Pitt-Greensburg
#5 Alfred State at #4 Hilbert
Bye:  #1 La Roche and #2 PS-Behrend

Championship Round at #1 seed
Semifinals: Friday, February 25
6pm:  #1 La Roche v. winner 5v4
8:30pm:  #2 PS-Behrend vs. winner of 6v3

Finals: Saturday, February 26 - 3pm