HOUGHTON, N.Y. — Behind a career-high 15 points from freshman guard Ali Rinfrette, the Pitt-Bradford women’s basketball team held off Houghton 52-49 Tuesday.
Rinfrette’s final two points of the night were the most important, as, tied at 49-49 with 23 seconds left, she went to the line and calmly sank both free throws to give UPB a 51-49 advantage.
Coudersport native Hannah Fink had a chance to tie the game, but her layup with 14 seconds left was off the mark and Rinfrette was able to collect the rebound.
“Tonight we really had to fight hard to win this game,” said head coach Patrick Daniel. “Our shots were not falling, but we stayed strong defensively and we got a much needed win going into the break. A win is a win and we will take it”
Rinfrette, who played all 40 minutes, scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half and also had seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. Sophomore guard Kaserra Owens finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward Alicia Kimmel had 12 points, seven boards and three assists.
With the win, Pitt-Bradford evened its record at 2-2, snapping a two-game losing streak in the process.
The Panthers struggled shooting the ball from the floor, connecting on just 32.8 percent (21-of-64), but made up for it by forcing 23 turnovers and committing just 10 of their own.
Maise Pipher led Houghton (1-2), posting a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Pitt-Bradford has a nearly two-week long layoff, returning to action Dec. 7 at Franciscan (Ohio) at 2 p.m.
Pitt-Bradford (52)
Rinfrette 5-15 5-6 15, Owens 5-11 2-4 13, Brate 2-3 0-0 4, Kimmel 6-21 0-2 12, B. Osborne 1-6 1-2 3, A. Osborne 0-0 0-0 0, Lantz 2-5 0-2 5, Watts 0-3 0-0 0, Yanetsko 0-0 0-0 0, Ware 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 21-64 8-16 51
Houghton (49)
Pipher 9-15 3-5 21, Manwaring 1-6 5-6 8, Webb 2-6 1-1 5, Fink 1-6 0-0 2, Enriquez 1-4 0-0 2, Bealor 5-5 0-0 10, Cronin 0-2 1-2 1, Mercer 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 19-45 10-14 49
Halftime — Tied 20-20. 3-point FGs — Pitt Bradford 2-10 (Owens 1-3, Lantz 1-3, Kimmel 0-2, Rinfrette 0-1, B. Osborne 0-1), Houghton 1-4 (Manwaring 1-4). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Pitt-Bradford 36 (Owens 8), Houghton 41 (Pipher 12). Assists — Pitt-Bradford 10 (Rinfrette, Kimmel 3), Houghton 15 (Pipher, Manwaring, Fink 3). Total Fouls — Pitt-Bradford 12, Houghton 16
