La PLUME, Pa. -- Penn College women's basketball ended the 2023 calendar in the win column with a 53-44 victory over Keystone on Saturday. The Wildcats halt a three-game slide and head into 2024 with a 4-9 record while dropping Keystone to 4-7.

How it happened: Penn College used a 10-0 run early in the first quarter to play with a lead in the opening frame. After Keystone began with a 4-0 lead, Mia Patterson got the offense started with a two-pointer, Emily Pardee and Allie Troup followed with a pair of layups and Rachel Teats turned a steal at half court into an easy layup for the 8-4 lead at 6:54. Teats scores seven of the team's first quarter points for a 17-16 advantage after the first 10 minutes.

The Wildcats maintained their lead through the second quarter even when Keystone tied the game at 18 and 20, the 'Cats answered with a Keeley Baker layup and Teats draining a three to go up 25-20 with 7:04 left in the first half. Later on, a Kenni Galbreath three put the Wildcats up by its largest lead, 33-23 with 1:30 to go in the half as that would be the score heading into the locker room.

Penn College continued to hold at least a six-point advantage through the third quarter as Teats trey at the 4:37 mark put the Wildcats up 40-32 and Bell Hitesman hit a pair of free throws to go up by 10 (47-37) once again before the end of the quarter. In a low-scoring fourth quarter, the Wildcats continued to play in front until the final buzzer. 

Inside the box: Teats led the Wildcats' offense with 17 points including 3-for-4 from long range and eight rebounds while Mia Patterson nearly recorded a double-double with nine points and a team-high 10 boards. The Teats-Patterson duo also led the Penn College defense with three steals each as the Wildcats forced 15 turnovers with eight steals. 

Up next: Penn College continues its five-game road trek on Tuesday when the Wildcats visit Houghton at 7 p.m.