The Lady Panthers had to work harder than they wanted to pick up the win in their conference home opener Friday night. York overcame a dismal 19% shooting percentage in the first half to claim the 63-60 victory.

Despite the poor shooting effort when they made only 6 baskets in the first half they still were able to have a 7-point lead 5 minutes into the game. However the Panthers didn't score another point over the next 8 and 1/2 minutes of play, managing only 7 points over the final 15 minutes of the half.

The second half was a back and forth battle as the Panthers chipped away at the deficit and tied the game 8 minutes into the 2nd half. However it wasn't until 1:01 to play that the Panthers took the lead on a 3-point basket by Demetra Howlingwolf (SR/Clinton, Okla). Zanoria Echols (SR/Olive Branch, Miss) scored on the next possession and Doreen Lopez (SR/Pico Rivera, Calif) made free throws to seal the victory with three seconds remaining.

Cory Minjarez (SR/El Paso, Texas) led the Panthers with 22 points followed by Echols' 11 and Jacqueline Esquivel (SO/San Antonio, Texas) followed with 10. The Panther defense forced 31 turnovers.

Coach Matt Madole said, "It was a pretty sloppy game on both ends. We didn't execute the way we wanted to and got away with one tonight. We have to play better than that or it will be a long conference season. I'm proud of the way the girls handled themselves when things didn't always go their way. They battled and did enough to come out ahead. We need to be better though."