Coming off a brief hiatus, the Penns Valley girls basketball team was back in action on the second day of 2026 against a young Mount Union team. Breaking off a 17-0 run to start, the Lady Rams never looked back as they topped the Trojans in a Mercy Rule inducing contest, 52-15, in non-league action.

Leading the offensive charge on the night was Sydnie Dalton, who was tough from the three-point line en route to a game-high 15 point effort. Teammate Paige Johnson added nine while Jordan Johnson rounded out the high scorers with eight points in the win.

“We haven’t played for almost a week and a half. We were a little rusty but we came out and did what we needed to do,” said Penns Valley coach Terrance Green. “It was great to get our bench out there. They definitely got some good minutes out there tonight. It was good to get them in the whole second half there and get good reps as we move forward.”

Mount Union was led by Lily House who finished with six points. Teammate Sophie Atherton followed her up with four in the loss. And one of the highlights for the Trojans was they out rebounded Penns Valley 23-21.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Sydnie Dalton (11) dives for a loose ball during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

In the first quarter, Penns Valley had its transition game working full force as they scored off the opening tip, with Elle Romig taking the tip and going on to score an easy lay-up.

On the Trojans first possession, the Lady Rams stole the ball and took it down the court, which also got finished off by Elle Dinges. Dalton then got her night going after a turnover by Mount Union set her up and she hit nothing but net on a three-pointer.

Following the triple, she was able to steal a pass from the Trojans and took it all the way up for the lay in. Teammate Lilly Smith then put her name in the scorebook as she pulled down an offensive rebound and got the put back, upping the Rams’ lead to 11-0 with 5:32 left in the first.

After consecutive buckets by Johnson and Dinges, the Trojans called a time out with the Rams leading 15-0. And after the time out, the Rams went right back to work, getting another bucket from Johnson.

Penns Valley’s defense gave up its lone first-quarter score at the 3:50 mark when Alexia Cook broke inside and posted a shot in traffic. But that was the only blemish in the all-Penns Valley first quarter, as it finished the period on a 12-0 run to hold a solid 29-2 advantage as the teams went into the second.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Paige Johnson (5) drives to the basket during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

Mount Union got back to battling in the second when they were only outscored 9-7, as both defenses tightened the contest. Going into the intermission, the Rams held a commanding 38-9 lead.

Minutes into the third quarter, the contest was sent into Mercy Rule Status as the Lady Rams cleared its benches, providing some valuable playing time to its bench.

There was no dip in competitiveness, as Penns Valley was still able to outscore Mount Union 8-2 in the stanza. That would all the Rams would need as they went onto take home the convincing victory.

With the win, Penns Valley improved its overall record to 5-4 and still has a Laurel Highlands Conference Record of 4-3. Next up for the Rams is a match up with Juniata Valley on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Penns Valley 52, Mount Union 15

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Elle Dinges (23) goes through her progressions during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

MU 2 7 2 4 – 15

PV 29 9 8 6 – 52

MOUNT UNION (15)

Sophie Atherton 1 2-2 4, Alexia Cook 1 1-2 3, Lily House 2 2-2 6, Olivia Morgan 1 0-0 2. Totals 5 5-6 15.

PENNS VALLEY (52)

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Ellie Romig (20) passes to a teammate during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

Savilla Zimmerman 1 2-3 4, Paige Johnson 4 0-0 9, Sydnie Dalton 6 0-0 15, Lilly Smith 2 0-0 4, Ellie Romig 2 0-0 4, Jordan Johnson 2 4-5 8, Elle Dinges 3 0-2 6, Aubrie Klobucar 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 6-12 52.

Three-Point shots: Mount Union 0. Penns Valley 4 (Sydnie Dalton 3, Paige Johnson).

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Lilly Smith (12) tries to find a shot during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Jordan Johnson (21) takes a free throw during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Sydnie Dalton (11) drives to the basket on a fast break during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Multiple Penns Valley defenders hinder a Mount Union dribbler during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Paige Johnson (5) drives to the basketball during a girls basketball game against Mount Union on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Penns Valley. The Rams won 52-15.