Published: January 17, 2008 10:03 am         

Penn State Altoona whips Frostburg State, 79-69

ALTOONA, Pa. - Penn State Altoona used an early second-half run and key free throw shooting down the stretch to get past Frostburg State in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference game.

The Lions (6-6, 4-2) used an 11-3 spurt to open the second half and turn a five-point halftime lead into a 13-point advantage with 12:29 left. Six minutes later, they held their largest lead, 63-44, but Frostburg State (4-9, 1-6) was able to pull the score back to within single digits inside the final minute of play.

The Lions went 8-for-10 from the foul line down the stretch to clinch the win.

Freshman Mercedes White came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points to go along with eight boards, three steals and three assists for the Bobcats. Amanda LaPorta had 15 points while Sidra Bing had 12 and Shanell Williams 10.

Eleven players scored for the Lions, led by Erin McGowan with 16 points on 8-of-9 free throws. Andrea Mortimer had 11 points and Alicia Glasser added 10 for Penn State Altoona, which shot 30-of-37 (81 percent) from the foul line.

The Bobcats host Hilbert on Saturday at 1 p.m.