WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn College pulled away with a strong second half to earn a 74-49 United East Conference women's basketball victory Saturday afternoon inside Bardo Gym. The Wildcats improved to 3-1 in the conference, 11-5 overall, while the Phoenix dropped to 2-2 UEC, 7-7 overall.

How it happened: The Wildcats outscored Wilson, 45-18 over the final two quarters to pull away from the Phoenix team that led, 31-29 at the half.  

Penn College got Gigi Parlante going early in the game as she scored the Wildcats' first eight points to lead 8-6. Kayla Herzer scored six and Mia Patterson had three to give the Wildcats an 18-10 lead after the first quarter.

Wilson responded by outscoring the Wildcats, 21-11 to take a lead heading into the halftime break.

Patterson opened the third frame with a layup, followed by RaeAnna Andreas and Parlante to knot the game at 35-35. Later in the third, Lexi Troup nailed a triple to give PCT a 42-35 lead with 3:47 to play and Patterson put the Wildcats up 10 (48-38) just before the horn to end the third quarter.

Troup and Kenni Galbreath paced the fourth quarter offense with eight points each as the Wildcats maintained their lead.

Inside the box: Patterson led the offense with 15 points including 7-for-11 from the charity stripe. She also added a team-high six assists, four steals and two blocks. Parlante was a rebound shy of another double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine boards while coming away with a team-high five steals. Troup joined Parlante and Patterson in double digits with 13 points.

The Wildcats forced 37 turnovers and held Wilson to just 35% shooting (16-46) in the win.

Up next: Penn College heads to Penn State Berks for a 7 p.m., tip-off on Tuesday.