Altoona, PA – The Alfred State women's basketball team fell 77-57 in a road matchup against the Altoona Lions. With the loss, Alfred moves to 7-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Alyssa Auer led the Pioneers with a strong offensive performance, finishing with 18 points and four rebounds while knocking down two three-pointers. Sarah Somers followed with 12 points, while Taylor Benjamin anchored the defense with three steals and three blocks.

Alfred struck first to open the contest, getting on the board with a jumper from Somers. Both teams traded baskets early, with the Pioneers seeing key contributions from Somers and Taylor Searle. The opening quarter concluded with Alfred trailing 19-10.
The second period began with Alfred looking to cut into the deficit, as Auer found her rhythm with two early layups. Despite the brief momentum, the Pioneers struggled to generate consistent offense as the half progressed and entered the halftime break trailing 39-21.

The Pioneers opened the third quarter with renewed energy, as Auer connected on a mid-range jumper followed by a three-pointer two minutes into the half. After another brief offensive drought, Somers scored in the paint following another Auer three midway through the quarter, bringing the score to 50-32. Altoona responded by extending its lead, and Alfred entered the final period trailing 66-40.

In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers continued to battle, with notable efforts from Mallory Sprissler and Benjamin. However, Alfred was unable to gain significant traction, ultimately falling 77-57.

The Pioneers will travel to Bradford, PA next for a matchup against the Panthers. Tipoff is set for Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m.