Penn State DuBois basketball teams hosted PSUAC double header to close semester

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DuBOIS, Pa. - Playing their final games prior to the semester break, the men's and women's basketball teams at Penn State DuBois were looking to pick up some key wins within the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) as a memorable way to end the 2024 portion of their schedules.

A weekend doubleheader began with the Lady Lions hosting Penn State Lehigh Valley at the PAW Center on Friday evening. Despite a strong showing, Penn State DuBois came up just short in a 67-64 loss to Penn State Lehigh Valley on Wednesday night at the PAW Center.

Sophomore forward Natalie Bowser led the Lady Lions with 18 points and 10 rebounds, notching a double-double in her 37 minutes on the court. Freshman forward Elizabeth Hungiville also recorded a double-double, contributing 11 points and 10 boards, along with a team-high three steals. Junior guard Frances Milliron added 11 points, hitting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, while freshman guard Eden Wonderling chipped in nine points and two steals. Sophomore forward Rebecca Martin showcased her versatility with six points, six rebounds, and two assists.

The Lady Lions started strong, holding a 13-11 lead after the first quarter, but a balanced attack from Lehigh Valley in the second period kept the game tied at halftime, 31-31. Lehigh Valley surged ahead in the third quarter, outscoring DuBois 23-18, and held on in a tense final period despite DuBois closing the gap late.

Lehigh Valley was paced by Journey Handy, who scored 17 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. Kennedy Armistead led all scorers with 15 points and added eight rebounds.

Turnovers proved costly for DuBois, as Lehigh Valley capitalized with 20 points off miscues compared to DuBois' 14. The Lady Lions also struggled to find consistent offense beyond the arc, shooting just 26.3% (5-of-19) from three-point range.

Following the loss on Friday, the Lady Lions looked to find a win on Saturday when they hosted Penn State Schuylkill. Despite a strong start, DuBois couldn't hold off Schuylkill, falling 58-46.

The Lady Lions struggled with consistency on offense, shooting just 24.6% from the field and 19.2% from beyond the arc. Bowser led DuBois with nine points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Senior Shannon Shaw added 11 points, sinking three 3-pointers, while Milliron contributed eight points, including a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the free-throw line.

The Lady Lions controlled the pace early, outscoring Schuylkill 12-7 in the first quarter. However, a 61.5% free-throw shooting performance by Schuylkill and sharp perimeter shooting by Tajae Stevenson, who tallied 17 points, helped the visitors take the lead in the second quarter. Schuylkill capitalized on turnovers, converting 17 points off DuBois' 19 miscues.

Hungiville anchored the defense for the Lady Lions with seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, but her efforts couldn't stem the tide as Schuylkill surged in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

The men's team also hosted a PSUAC weekend doubleheader at the PAW Center, beginning with a visit from Penn State Lehigh Valley on Friday. The Nittany Lions used a strong first half performance to create separation on the scoreboard on their way to an 84-65 win to break a nine-game losing streak.

Sophomore guard Cole Love gave a strong performance coming off the bench in the first half of the contest, scoring ten points in just seven minutes of game time. Seniors Jordin Sommers and Beau Verdill also contributed eight points each in the first half, while sophomore guard Kaleb Pryor used defensive pressure to create four steals.

The Nittany Lions used hot shooting in the first half to create a 45-31 lead heading into the locker room at halftime. DuBois shot nearly 54% from the field in the first half. They used that momentum to ride their way to victory over Lehigh Valley.

Penn State DuBois looked to get onto a win streak when Penn State Schuylkill visited the PAW Center on Saturday. Despite a strong offensive performance, Penn State DuBois came up short against Penn State Schuylkill in a 102-92 loss on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore forward Niare Poplar led the way for DuBois with a dominant 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting, while also contributing seven rebounds and four steals. Verdill added an impressive double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Pryor chipped in 18 points.

DuBois was competitive throughout, trailing 54-43 at halftime but battling to close the gap in the second half. They excelled on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Schuylkill 26-15 in that category and turning 19 turnovers into 27 points. However, Schuylkill's efficient shooting, particularly in the second half where they shot 82.6% from the field, proved insurmountable.

Schuylkill's offensive firepower was on full display, with Makhi Jones leading all scorers with 26 points, including four three-pointers. Issac Lane added 20 points and five rebounds, while Amir Gray came off the bench to contribute a perfect 8-for-8 shooting performance, finishing with 19 points.

Having played their final games of the semester, the Lady Lions enter the break with a record of 3-7, and the Nittany Lions' record is 3-10. Both teams will now be off until January. The women's team will return to action on Jan. 6 when they host Kent State Tuscarawas at the PAW Center at 6 p.m. The men's team will be on the road to start the 2025 portion of their schedule when they travel to play Butler County Community College on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.

Both the Lady Lions and Nittany Lions will then host Berkeley College on Jan. 13. The women's game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 8 p.m.

For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.