CRESSON, Pa. -- The Mount Aloysius women's basketball team suffered a conference loss to La Roche University (5-2, 1-0 AMCC) this Wednesday, Dec. 4. 

Heavy rebounding differentials would separate the two programs in this AMCC match up, despite a close first quarter. Attacking inside, both teams struggled with percentages against strong interior defense. Playing from the post benefited the visitors in the second quarter; despite four first half blocks from forward Molly Kosmack (Homer City, Pa., Homer-Center), and the Redhawks would carve out a lead on just 30% shooting from the floor. Plagued by turnovers, the second quarter would contain the worst of the Mounties' offensive struggles this season, and the hosts would score just four points on 8% shooting across the ten minutes. Yielding to the Redhawks' defense, the Mounties would enter halftime down 14 to the visitors. 

Battling back after the break, the Mounties would cut the lead back to single digits early in the third. Interior play remained a focus as the Mounties' outside shooting would sit below 15% for the game. Ready for the challenge, the Redhawks would elevate their shooting, improving their field goal percentage to 47% for the quarter. Turnovers would continue for the Mounties, giving their opponents 22-points after giving up the ball. 

Heading into the fourth down 16, the Mounties would face the most efficient Redhawk offense of the night as the visitors maintained 50% / 40% / 100% across the final ten minutes of play. Despite a slight uptick in boards across the final quarter, rebounding would be the difference maker for the game, as the Redhawks would 17 more rebounds than the hosts. Attacking the offensive glass would give La Roche 20 more shot attempts than the Mounties, making up for any shooting efficiency problems. 

Yuletide break comes after one more game for the Mounties, who return to action this Saturday at Pitt-Bradford. Mount Aloysius falls to 4-3 this season overall and 0-2 in AMCC play, while the Panthers enter the upcoming contest 1-4 this season. Only playing out of conference competition thus far, Pitt-Bradford comes off their first win of the season, defeating Penn State Dubois 83-76. Mount Aloysius defeated Pitt-Bradford in both regular season games in the 2023-2024 season.