Women's Basketball Slips Up in Semifinals

HAZLETON, PA (February 20, 2016) - No. 2 Penn State Hazleton got a scare from no. 3 seed Penn State Lehigh Valley, but survived with a 76-71 win in a Penn State University Athletic Conference women's basketball semifinal on Saturday afternoon in the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium.

Hazleton, the no. 2 seed in the PSUAC tournament and the no. 2 team in the latest USCAA Coaches Poll, started fast but couldn't keep their momentum early. Lehigh Valley, ranked 7th in the most recent USCAA Poll, erased a 10-point deficit over the final five minutes of the first quarter before a big second quarter gave the visitors a 10-point halftime lead. 

1st Half

Hazleton came out on fire, grabbing a quick 9-0 lead just two minutes into action. The Lady Lions led by as many as 10 at the halfway mark of the first quarter. That's when Lehigh Valley made their run. The Lions forced Hazleton into uncharacteristic turnovers and took advantage, ultimately forcing 16 first half miscues while they cut into, and eventually took, the lead.

Lehigh Valley cut the gap to 14-12 and would ultimately tie the score at 16 after one quarter of play. The teams went back-and-forth through the first three minutes of the second stanza before Lehigh Valley made their move.

The Lions used a 9-3 run to grab a 29-21 lead. Guevara helped cut into the lead, making three lay-ups as Hazleton pulled within three at 31-28. But Andrea Watkins answered with seven straight points for Lehigh Valley to end the half with Hazleton trailing 40-30.

2nd Half

Hazleton trailed by as many as 12 early in the third quarter, going scoreless for the first 2:13 of the half. Hazleton freshman McKenzie Prutsman hit a three, Guevara added a lay-up and sophomore Kamryn Dodd scored four straight points to make it 44-39 with 5:50 remaining in the third. 

Shortly after cutting the deficit to five, senior Alexis Daly went to the bench with her fourth foul. Guevara and freshman Haley Nalls picked up the slack in the immediate aftermath, aggressively attacking the rim and hitting jumpers. Guevara hit a three and she and Nalls combined for six straight free throws to tie the score at 48 apiece. A Nalls jumper gave Hazleton their first lead since the first quarter and the teams would trade buckets in the final 3:27 of the third to finish tied once again, this time at 57-57.

Lehigh Valley led 62-60 until Prutsman hit a three from the top of the arc to make it a one point Hazleton advantage. Lehigh Valley answered and the teams found themselves knotted once again at 67-67. Guevara got to the line and hit two free throws and Daly followed with a jumper to give the Lady Lions a 71-67 lead with 2:55 to play. 

Watkins, however, was not done. An offensive rebound led to a foul, putting her at the line where she would make both. Less than 30 seconds later Watkins tied the score with a lay-up and just under two minutes to play. Hazleton sophomore Jaclyn Siva-Harrison broke the tie with a drive to the basket and Lehigh Valley couldn't capitalize on attempts from the paint at their end, ultimately leading to Guevara icing the game with three late free throws.

Lehigh Valley was led by Watkins with 32 points. Sophomore Hannah Bankes recorded 17 points. Junior Ashley Gordon and freshman Lizzy Leiby each chipped in with 7 points. 

Lehigh Valley will find out Wednesday if they will receive an at-large bid to the USCAA National Tournament. 

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