The Berkeley College women's basketball team picked up a pair of key victories in recent days, defeating Penn State Mont Alto by a score of 74-49, before turning around a day later and turning back Penn State Du Bois, 74-63. With the wins, the Knights improved to a mark of 7-6 on the 2024-2025 campaign. Mont Alto dipped to a mark of 3-8 on the year, while Du Bois also fell to 3-8.
In the Knights' win over Penn State Mont Alto, four players scored in double figures, including Magan Jackson, as she finished with a team-high 19 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists, a pair of swatted shots, and two steals. Maria Negron and Khya Hough netted 14 points apiece, with Negron also tying for the game-high of 10 rebounds while adding four steals. Hough finished with four assists, four boards, and three steals. Finally, it was Ariella Johnson finishing with 10 points, five caroms, four steals, and three dimes.
Dariana Perez scored 25 of Mont Alto's 49 points on the evening, as she connected on seven of her 16 shot attempts for the evening, while also draining nine of her 10 shots from the stripe. In addition, she also snatched six rebounds, dished three assists, and swiped three steals. Victoria Kalp nearly registered a double-double, scoring eight points and grabbing 10 rebounds while leading all players with five steals and recording a pair of assists.
After trailing 18-16 after 10 minutes of action, the Knights dominated the second quarter, outscoring the hosts 25-6. Jackson scored the opening six points of the second period to put the Knights up 22-18. Johnson and Negron then scored a bucket apiece, and Hough nailed a three-point basket, as Berkeley snatched a 29-18 lead with 5:41 left in the half. The Knights continued to build their advantage, eventually going up 17 (41-24) at the break.
Mont Alto scored the first two baskets of the third quarter to pull to within 13, but the Knights outscored the hosts 19-9 for the rest of the period to take a commanding 60-37 advantage after three quarters. Berkeley netted 14 points in the fourth to Mont Alto's 12, accounting for the 25-point margin of victory (74-49).
The Knights connected on 45.1 percent of their shot attempts for the evening (32-71), while Mont Alto earned just a 30.8 percent conversion rate (16-52). Berkeley held a 43-34 edge on the glass, while also piling 18 assists to Mont Alto's nine. Berkeley tallied a whopping 25 steals, while Mont Alto finalized their evening with nine, and the Knights won the turnover battle, committing 23 miscues to Mont Alto's 35.
In Berkeley's triumph over Penn State Du Bois, Ariella Johnson's 19 points led all players, and her five assists were also a game-high. Johnson's five steals led all Knights, and she also grabbed three rebounds. Negron registered a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, and Jackson also recorded a double-double with 12 points, 12 boards, a game-high six steals, and two swatted shots. Finally, Anastasia Davis finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals.
Four players scored in double figures for Du Bois, including Elizabeth Hungiville, as she posted team-highs of 13 points and nine rebounds, and a game-high four blocked shots. Natalie Bowser added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Shannon Shaw and Frances Milliron scored 10 points apiece.
DuBois looked to start the game on a tear as the went on an 11-0 run in the first three minutes of the opening period. Berkeley trailed 23-16 after 10 minutes of action, but just as the Knights did against Mont Alto, they dominated Du Bois in the second quarter, scoring 20 points while holding the hosts to just six, as the Knights took a 36-29 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Berkeley took its biggest lead of the game with 1:42 remaining in the third quarter when Kanijah Jacobs converted on a layup to put the Knights ahead by 20 (57-37). Du Bois then used an 11-0 run that spanned the remainder of the third quarter, and the opening 2:26 of the fourth, to pull to within nine (57-48) with 7:34 remaining in the contest. The home school continued to push, eventually inching to within four (66-62) with 1:23 remaining, but Berkeley closed out the victory with an 8-1 run to win the game, 74-63.
For the night, Berkeley connected on 29 of its 80 attempts from the floor (36.3 percent), while Du Bois earned just a 32.8 percent conversion rate (22-67). The Knights dominated on the glass, snatching 53 rebounds compared to 38 for the hosts. Penn State Du Bois did register 16 assists to Berkeley's 12, but the Knights won the turnover battle, committing just 11 miscues to 20 for Du Bois.
Berkeley will begin a five-game homestand on Wednesday evening, as the Knights welcome Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) to Achievement First Brooklyn High School for an NACIA contest. Start-time is scheduled for 7:00pm.
