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ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT (0-3) women's basketball team failed to hold a fourteen point first half lead en route to an 81-69 loss to Penn State Behrend (2-1) in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore #Leslie Havens (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) led RIT with 24 points. Freshman (Neptune, NJ/Neptune)Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa)# scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while #Courtney Tennant (Cortland, NY/Cortland) and Alex Kelley (Rochester, NY/Brighton)# each had eight points.

RIT trailed by five points early in the first half, before going on a 23-4 run, taking a 27-13 lead on a three pointer by freshman #Mallory Apperson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove)#. Havens scored 12 of RIT's 20 points in the run, including three three-pointers.

The Lions clawed their way back in the game, closing out the first half on a 27-13 run, tying the score on a half court shot by Amy Oldach as the buzzer sounded to tie the score at 40-40.

RIT held a lead briefly in the opening moments of the second half on a jumper by Courtney Tennant (Cortland, NY/Cortland) which gave the Tigers a 42-40 lead. Anne Wapshare (Blasdell, NY/Immaculata Academy)'s bucket with 14:37 to play in regulation capped off a mini run by RIT, tying the score at 50 apiece.

Penn State Behrend went on a 13-3 run over a 3:30 span midway through the second half, taking a 10-point lead on a three-pointer by Oldach who finished with a game-high 30 points.

Wheeler capped off another RIT run with a pair of made free throws pulling the Tigers to within seven points with 4:58 to play. RIT would get no closer as the Lions pulled away for the 12-point win.

The Tigers shot 36.6% from the floor, including 42% in the first half. Havens' 24 points paced the Tigers. RIT was 4-of-16 from three-point land while committing 19 turnovers. Tennant grabbed a team-high 10 boards for RIT.

RIT will be in action next week at the 18th Annual Wendy's College Classic. Action gets underway on Tuesday, November 30.