Records Fall In 83-68 Women’s Basketball Win Over Penn St.-Berks

READING, Pa. – All five starters reached double-digit point totals for the first time in program history as the Wells College women's basketball team posted an 83-68 victory over the Nittany Lions of Penn St.-Berks Friday evening. The Express improve to 2-0 within North Eastern Athletic Conference play for the first time in program history while also picking up their third overall victory of the season (3-6). The Nittany Lions fall to 2-7 overall on the season while dropping to 1-2 overall in the NEAC.

The Express also scored the most points in program history with tonight's victory. With 83 total points scored, Wells eclipsed the previous program record of 76 points, scored against Wilson College on Feb. 9, 2012.

Despite collecting the victory, the Nittany Lions possessed a seven point lead with 13:25 remaining in the first half following a Keisha Robinson layup in the paint. However, the Express were able to utilize a Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) three pointer to spark a comeback. Smythe went on to add the game's next two points with a jumper at 11:54 to further cut the deficit. The Express captured the lead for good in the first half after Brittany White (Lewiston, N.Y.) buried a foul shot and a layup to take a 21-20 lead with 9:31 remaining in the first half.

Both White and freshman Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) posted nine points in the first stanza, with both players burying four field goals. White also chipped in defensively, picking up four defensive rebounds. Junior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) scored four points, adding two first half assists.

With 14:24 remaining in the first, Nittany Lions led by four points. Freshman Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) buried back-to-back free throws that preceded a jumper by sophomore Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kapaa, Hawaii) to tie the game at 48 aside. The Express did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of regulation time, eventually building a 15 point lead as time expired in the contest.

Erkson recorded a career high 24 points en route to the victory. The team's four other starting players also reached double-digits, including Achzet (15 points), Artaho-Aki (14 points), Roser (13 points) and White (11 points), who also finished with a career high. Erkson led the team in points for the first time all season – for the first time dating back to Feb. 9, 2012, a player other than Roser led the team in points.

Defensively, Roser led the team with 15 rebounds while Erkson posted three field goals from three point range. Roser also posted a team-best five steals. Aki tied the program record for assists in a game with eight while the team set a program record with 22 combined helpers. For the Nittany Lions, Nichole Young-Trapp posted 22 points, burying 11-of-14 from the field. Three other players scored double-digit point totals for Penn St.-Berks, including Shanelle Koch, Kellie Wilson and Robinson.

The Express continue their road trip Saturday, Jan. 5 as they face-off against Lancaster Bible College in a 1:00 p.m. contest. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).