ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 55, AUSTIN 47

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Feb. 24, 2009 - District 9 Class A Girls' Semifinals

EMPORIUM – Top-seeded Elk County Catholic outscored Austin 26-19 in the second half to break open a one-point game at the half and get a 55-47 win over the fourth-seeded Lady Panthers in the District 9 Class A girls’ semifinals Tuesday night at Cameron County High School.

ECC (25-1) led 29-28 at halftime but moved that advantage out to four, 45-41, at the end of three quarters.

Kaitlyn Geci, Bre Grimone and Kirstie Pistner combined to score 49 of ECC’s 55 points. Geci led the way with 19, Grimone added 17 and Pistner 13.

That helped offset a big night from Austin’s Whitney Crosby. Crosby had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Lady Panthers (22-3) while going 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. Emily Wambaugh chipped in nine points and six rebounds, while Cassey Stuckey added eight points and six rebounds

The Lady Crusaders are in the District 9 Class A title game for the first time since losing 59-49 to Union in 2005, and ECC is looking for its first District 9 title since 1989 (49-44 over Coudersport). ECC will face Coudersport at 5 p.m. Saturday at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.

Austin, meanwhile, will take on West Forest in the consolation game at a site, time and date to be determined. The Lady Panthers lost to Clarion in last year’s consolation game.

NOTES – Both teams have qualified for the PIAA Tournament.

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 55, AUSTIN 47

Score by Quarters

Austin 10 18 13 6 – 47

ECC 10 19 16 10 – 55

Austin – 47

Hilary Gordnier 2 0-0 4, Katelyn Valenti 3 0-0 6, Whitney Crosby 4 10-11 20, Cassey Stuckey 4 0-0 8, Emily Wambaugh 4 1-1 9, Dallas Niles 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 11-12 47.

Elk County Catholic – 55

Kirstie Pistner 6 0-0 13, Kaitlyn Geci 6 6-6 19, Bre Grimone 8 1-2 17, Emily Detsch 2 0-0 4, Abbey Salter 1 0-0 2, Karly Carnovale 0 0- 0, Sandy Levenduski 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Hunter 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 7-8 55.

Three-pointers: Austin 2 (Crosby 2), Elk County Catholic 2 (Pistner, Geci).