WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Penn College fell short to Penn State Abington, 67-62, in the United East Conference Women's Basketball Semifinal Wednesday evening in Bardo Gym. The Wildcats finish their season with a program-best 20-7 record. The Lions improved to 20-6 and will play St. Mary's in the United East Championship game on Saturday.

How it happened: Abington raced out to a 21-17 lead after a fast-paced first quarter. Gigi Parlante scored nine points, Lexi Troup scored five and Breana Valentine added three in the opening frame. RaeAnna Andreas pulled the Wildcats within two with the first bucket of the second quarter. Mia Patterson and Parlante hit back-to-back layups to tie the score at 23-23 with 7:32 before the half.

Valentine gave the Wildcats a brief 29-28 lead with just over two minutes to go, but three-straight Abington layups gave the Lions a 34-29 lead at the break.

Abington remained ahead through the third quarter and built its largest lead of the night, 54-42, with a layup at the end of the third quarter. 

The Wildcats started the fourth frame with a 10-2 run to pull within striking distance of the Lions as Parlante scored six of the first eight points while Valentine drained a pair of free throws and dished an assist to Patterson to cut the deficit to 56-52 with 7:01. Later, Patterson got the Wildcats within three, 60-63, with 1:24 remaining, but the Wildcats hit just one more basket in the final minute.

Inside the box: Parlante dropped a game-high 28 points – one off of her career-best – and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Patterson scored 12 points and six rebounds while Breana Valentine added 11 points and nine assists.

Three Lions reached double-digit scoring, led by Amirah Hackney's 19 points and a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double by Tarianda Washington. Abington outscored Penn College, 21-10 on turnovers and held a 13-4 advantage on second chance points.