HUNTINGDON, Pa. (Interstat) — Lanie Wilt scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and added three assists as Penn State-Altoona defeated Juniata 64-50 in a women’s NCAA Division III basketball game on Tuesday at Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center. The Lions improved to 1-1 while the Eagles fell to 0-2 in front of 249 spectators.

Penn State-Altoona controlled the game with a balanced offensive effort and a decisive edge on the offensive glass. The Lions shot 26 of 75 from the floor, including 7 of 24 from 3-point range, and made 5 of 6 free throws. Juniata shot 15 of 54 from the field, 4 of 15 from beyond the arc, and 16 of 22 from the foul line. Penn State-Altoona finished with 70 possessions and an offensive rating of 91.6, while Juniata had 68 possessions and an offensive rating of 73.0.

Wilt, the top star for the Lions, played 37 minutes and helped Penn State-Altoona set the tone. Alina Sopko added 21 points in 29 minutes, while Madison Rusnica contributed four points, eight rebounds, five assists and one block over 39 minutes. Addi Schirato had four points, nine rebounds and two blocks, and Halle Kuzminski added two points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The Lions posted 16 offensive rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and only eight turnovers.

Juniata was led by Cate Clarke, who finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes. Laney Gerdich added eight points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block, while Tianna Sanabria scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds. Teagan Strunk had three points, two rebounds and one assist, and Ashley Porter scored four points. The Eagles recorded eight offensive rebounds, two assists, two blocks and 12 turnovers.

Penn State-Altoona made the most of its chances inside and off mistakes. The Lions scored 30 points in the paint and turned Juniata’s turnovers into 15 points, compared with five points off turnovers for the Eagles. Penn State-Altoona’s work on the offensive boards also created second-chance opportunities and helped offset a cold shooting night from the floor. Juniata stayed within range at times by getting to the free-throw line, but the Eagles could not generate enough consistent offense against the Lions’ defense.

The most important stretch came as Penn State-Altoona answered Juniata’s early pressure and then pulled away. After Sanabria’s free throws tied the game early, Wilt hit a 3-pointer and Sopko scored twice late in the first quarter to give the Lions a lead. In the second quarter, Juniata twice tied the score, including at 21-all on Gerdich’s layup, but Wilt answered with a 3-pointer and later added two free throws to help Penn State-Altoona build separation. Rusnica’s free throws and Schirato’s jumper further extended the lead before Wilt capped the first-half scoring from the line.

Wilt remained the central figure after halftime. She opened the third-quarter scoring for the Lions with a layup, then connected on another 3-pointer to push the margin to 39-26. Juniata responded with free throws from Sanabria and Clarke and a 3-pointer from Strunk, but Penn State-Altoona had an answer each time. Sopko scored at the rim, and Wilt closed the third quarter with a layup that gave the Lions a 51-40 advantage. In the fourth, Sopko repeatedly attacked the basket and scored to keep Juniata from mounting a comeback, while Wilt’s 3-pointer with 4:23 remaining made it 60-45. Juniata got a late 3-pointer from Caleigh Clark and two free throws from Ashlyn Porter, but the Lions closed out the win.

Sopko’s 21-point performance provided a strong complement to Wilt, and Rusnica’s all-around floor game helped Penn State-Altoona manage possessions. The Lions finished with a 30-18 advantage in paint scoring and a 15-5 edge in points off turnovers, key factors in the final margin. Juniata’s Clarke and Gerdich combined for 21 points and 17 rebounds, but the Eagles managed only two assists as a team and could not close the gap in the second half.

Penn State-Altoona will next play at Catholic. Juniata will travel to Mount Aloysius. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Penn State-Altoona 72, Juniata 53, and Interstat’s ELO system had given the Lions a 63.6 percent probability to win before the game.