Veronica Novotny
Editor-in-Chief
The Lady Barons basketball team put up a fight against the University of Pittsburgh Greensburg Bobcats but lost 56-43 at the season opener Saturday at 1 p.m.
Freshman guard Jazzlyn Melnyk put the first points on the board for the Lady Barons with a 3-pointer and a basket. But the Bobcats pulled ahead and took the lead, closing the first quarter 22-11.
Melnyk started the second quarter with another 3-pointer, closing the gap between the teams. The Lady Barons brought the gap down to six points, the score standing 32-26 with less than a minute left in the top half until the Bobcats landed a last-minute basket, closing the second quarter 34-26.
Sophomore forward Sophie LaRose made her first points with a bucket and a 3-pointer. The Lady Barons matched the Bobcats point for point with back-and-forth action that kept it a game of 3-pointers for much of the third quarter. The Bobcats pulled ahead and closed the quarter 44-37.
After tightening their defense and going on a 9-2 run, the Bobcats took the match 56-43.
Melnyk led the team with 14 points and 14 rebounds in 35 minutes of play at her first collegiate match.
“I am really proud of our team and fight from the game today,” said Coach Sean Kirk after the game. “I believe we will be very talented. We played a team that had multiple fifth-year seniors, and we are a team of freshmen and sophomores. I am encouraged by our performance and believe we will be successful.”
The Lady Barons’ next home game, scheduled for Nov. 10, was postponed. The team looks forward to their next scheduled home game against Grove City College Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.