DuBOIS, Pa. — Since the Thanksgiving holiday, the men’s and women’s basketball teams have seen a busy couple of weeks, with each team playing four games recently. Both teams are working hard to achieve early season success to propel them through to the upcoming end of semester break.
Prior to Thanksgiving, the women’s basketball team made a trip to visit the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford for an afternoon contest. In a closely contested matchup, Pitt-Bradford managed to secure a hard-fought victory with a final score of 66-62. From the outset, it was a game marked by tenacious defense and a back-and-forth offensive struggle.
Natalie Bowser emerged as a force to be reckoned with, dominating the paint, and showcasing her prowess with 13 points and an impressive 13 rebounds, contributing significantly to her team's efforts on both ends of the court. Tara Leamer also displayed a strong presence, securing nine rebounds to go along with her ten points, providing crucial support in the paint.
On the perimeter, Shannon Shaw stood out as a scoring threat, tallying 16 points, with her ability to sink three-pointers proving valuable for the Lady Lions. Frances Milliron contributed 13 points while displaying her skills as a playmaker with three assists, although facing a tough defensive challenge from Pitt-Bradford.
Defensively, the team showed glimpses of strength, registering 12 steals throughout the game, showcasing their ability to disrupt Pitt-Bradford's offensive flow and create scoring opportunities on the fast break.
Despite facing a deficit at various points in the game, Penn State DuBois displayed resilience and determination, staging a comeback attempt in the second half, narrowing the gap and putting pressure on their opponents until the final buzzer, but ultimately came up short in this contest.
Following the loss to Pitt-Bradford, Penn State DuBois looked to rebound a week later when they hosted Penn State New Kensington at the PAW Center. In a hard-fought game, DuBois emerged victorious with a final score of 60-52. Both teams showcased their strengths throughout the game, but the Lady Lions managed to secure the win with a solid performance in crucial moments.
Destiny Batiste led the charge for Penn State New Kensington, displaying an impressive offensive output with 20 points, supported by Jada Norman's strong rebounding with 11 boards. However, their team faced challenges with shooting accuracy, hitting 26% from the field and 15% from beyond the arc.
Penn State DuBois showcased a more balanced offensive effort. Bowser dominated the paint with a staggering 27 rebounds and contributed 21 points to her team's victory. Shaw's playmaking abilities were evident with ten assists, while Rebecca Martin and Kelsey Stuart provided valuable support with 14 and 10 points respectively.
The Lady Lions’ stronger shooting percentages, especially in the third quarter with a 45% field goal rate, and their ability to capitalize on turnovers, 12 points off turnovers, played a significant role in securing the win. Despite New Kensington's efforts to compete in rebounds and second-chance points, DuBois' collective performance helped them maintain the edge throughout the game. Overall, the Lady Lions showcased a collective effort with contributions from various players, overcoming individual shooting challenges through strong teamwork, defensive prowess, and a dominant presence in rebounds to secure a well-deserved win.
Penn State DuBois returned to the court on Friday when they made the trip to Allentown to face off with Penn State Lehigh Valley. Facing a tough challenge, the Lady Lions gave their all but came up short against Lehigh Valley, falling by a final score of 78-56.
Martin led the charge for the Lady Lions with an impressive double-double, dominating the boards with 13 rebounds and contributing 16 points. Bowser also showcased her skills, tallying ten points and 14 rebounds. Shaw was also an offensive spark, dropping 17 points, including five three-pointers.
Despite these standout performances, Penn State Lehigh Valley controlled the game. Penn State DuBois faced difficulties in shooting efficiency, hitting 31% overall from the field. However, their second-half improvement in shooting percentages, especially from beyond the arc, showed resilience and determination.
The defensive effort of the Lady Lions was commendable, forcing Lehigh Valley into 20 turnovers. However, the home team's ability to capitalize on fast breaks and turnovers made the difference in the contest.
Having no time to dwell on the loss from the night before, Penn State DuBois quickly returned to the court, this time visiting Penn State Brandywine. In an intense basketball game at the Brandywine Commons, Brandywine began the game with a strong lead before DuBois rallied fiercely.
Despite a challenging start, the Lady Lions roared back in the second quarter, showcasing impressive offensive prowess. Martin and Bowser dominated the boards, combining for a whopping 31 rebounds. Their efforts, coupled with Tara Leamer's tenacious defense, allowed DuBois to steadily climb back into contention.
The second half saw DuBois maintaining their momentum, improving their shooting percentages significantly. Bowser's 19 points and dominant presence under the basket were instrumental in keeping the scoreboard ticking for DuBois. Milliron and Shaw contributed crucially on both ends of the floor, despite facing tough defensive pressure.
Penn State DuBois capitalized on points in the paint and turned turnovers into scoring opportunities. Their resilience in the face of a strong Brandywine defense showcased their determination and skill.
Ultimately, with a final surge in the fourth quarter, DuBois sealed a hard-earned victory with a final score of 62-54, demonstrating their ability to adapt, compete, and secure a vital win on the road.
On the men’s side, the Nittany Lions played their final game before the Thanksgiving break on Nov. 21 when they traveled to face Malone University in Canton, Oh. In a challenging game against Malone, an NCAA Division II opponent, Penn State DuBois faced an uphill battle, ultimately falling short with a final score of 107-63. Despite a strong effort from individuals like Jaiquil Johnson, who contributed 17 points, the team struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm throughout the game.
The first half proved difficult for the Nittany Lions as Malone took a lead with a score of 50-23. Shooting percentages were a challenge in the initial periods, but the team displayed resilience in the second half, notably improving their shooting to 48%. Kaleb Pryor's 17 points and contributions from Cole Love, Alex Preston, and Beau Verdill off the bench showcased the team's depth and determination.
However, Malone's strong offensive performance, shooting an impressive 65% for the game, proved difficult to contain. Despite Penn State DuBois' efforts to create points off turnovers and in the paint, Malone's dominance in various facets of the game, including fast break points and bench contributions, secured their victory.
Penn State DuBois looked to rebound from the loss when they returned to the hardwood at the PAW Center a week later when they played host to Penn State New Kensington. In a high-scoring matchup, the Nittany Lions faced a tough challenge. Despite their efforts, DuBois struggled to contain New Kensington's dominant inside game, allowing 66 points in the paint. The final score stood at 115-90 in favor of New Kensington.
Benjamin Cunningham led the charge for New Kensington with an impressive 32 points and a staggering 21 rebounds, showcasing his dominance in the paint. Ta'Rasi Means and Shyheim Flanagan contributed significantly, each adding 22 points to their team's scoreboard.
For Penn State DuBois, Johnson emerged as the standout performer, putting up 31 points while showcasing his prowess from beyond the arc with three successful three-pointers. Despite a valiant effort from Johnson and Kaleb Pryor, who added 11 points and dished out seven assists, the Nittany Lions faced difficulties in converting their field goals.
New Kensington's efficient scoring inside the paint proved to be the defining factor, securing them a substantial advantage. Despite a spirited effort from DuBois, the inability to match their opponent's interior presence led to the final score deficit. The bench provided a spark for DuBois, contributing 31 points to the team's total, but it wasn't enough to bridge the gap.
Looking to get back on the winning track on Friday, Penn State DuBois made the trip to visit Penn State Lehigh Valley. In a high-intensity showdown against Lehigh Valley, Penn State DuBois displayed a formidable offensive effort despite a narrow 92-85 loss. The game showcased remarkable performances, particularly from Johnson and Pryor, who combined for an impressive 46 points. Johnson's sharpshooting from beyond the arc, sinking four out of seven three-pointers, was a standout feature, while Pryor's well-rounded game contributed significantly with 20 points, three assists, and an active defensive presence.
Though the Nittany Lions faced a tough challenge, they held their ground with a commendable display of teamwork, securing 27 bench points and effectively capitalizing on turnovers, amassing 36 points off them. Ashton Fortson's solid contributions on both ends of the court, notching 12 points along with four rebounds and two steals, fortified their resilience throughout the game.
Despite the loss, the team exhibited a competitive spirit, trading baskets throughout the game and staying within striking distance until the final moments. With notable efforts from Verdill, who added 14 points and four assists, the Nittany Lions demonstrated a collective determination despite Lehigh Valley's dominant presence in the paint, amassing 40 points from close-range opportunities.
Trying to find another win, Penn State DuBois had that opportunity again on Saturday when they visited Penn State Brandywine. In an intense battle on the court, Penn State DuBois secured a hard-fought victory over Penn State Brandywine with a final score of 71-68. Despite Brandywine's strong start, the Nittany Lions showcased resilience and determination, staging an impressive comeback to seal the win.
Johnson and Pryor led the charge for Penn State DuBois, contributing significantly with 14 points each. Their combined efforts, supported by a balanced performance from Jadon Myers and Jordin Sommers, propelled the team forward. The game saw remarkable plays on both ends, with Pryor's six assists and Sommers' defensive prowess, collecting two steals and challenging the opposition.
Though the shooting percentage wasn't at its peak, the team capitalized on crucial moments, especially from the free-throw line in the second half, boosting their overall performance to secure the win. Verdill's impactful play off the bench, tallying 11 points and three critical blocks, further solidified Penn State DuBois' efforts in securing this vital victory.
The Nittany Lions displayed exceptional teamwork, turning turnovers into opportunities, and leveraging fast breaks effectively to edge past their opponent. With a total team effort and a strong finish, they walked away with a well-deserved win on the road, marking an important triumph in their season.
Now holding a 3-4 record for the season, the Lady Lions of Penn State DuBois will return home this weekend when they play games at the PAW Center on Friday and Saturday. Friday will see Penn State Schuylkill make the trip to DuBois for a 6 p.m. tip-off. That will be followed by Penn State Hazleton coming to visit on Saturday for an afternoon contest. That game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
For the men’s team, who is now 3-7 on the season, they will also host Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton this weekend at the PAW Center. On Friday, the men’s game against Schuylkill will follow the women’s matchup, with a tip-off time at approximately 8 p.m. On Saturday, the men’s contest against Hazleton is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
For complete athletic schedules visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.