ERIE, Pa. – The Thiel College women's basketball team was defeated 76-52 in non-conference play Tuesday evening by the Penn State Behrend Lions at the Junker Center in Erie, Pa.
 
The Tomcats (2-3) trailed the Lions by just six points (33-27) at halftime and at the end of the third quarter (49-43). Penn State Behrend dominated the fourth quarter (27-9) to earn the non-conference win.
 
Taylor Duchon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the Tomcats with 13 points while securing four rebounds. Jess Vormelker (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley) tallied her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Also for Thiel, Erin DiFalco (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and chipped in eight points while Brijae Journee (Cleveland, Ohio/Villa-Angela St. Joseph) scored seven points.
 
Katie Chess and Ali Goetz led the Lions with 14 points apiece while Rachael Razzano scored 13 points. Also for Penn State Behrend, Heidi Langhorst contributed nine points and tallied a team-best nine rebounds.
 
The Tomcats will open up Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play Wednesday, Nov. 30 when they take on the Westminster Titans on the road. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.