Lady Lions Lose Overtime Thriller, Show They're Ready for National Spotlight

Hazleton, PA - The Lady Lions of Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus took the Nation's #5 team, Penn State Hazleton to overtime in Wednesday's first round of the PSUAC playoffs, dropping a 66-65 decision.  The Lady Lions were without Freshman forward Jackie Halapy, who is averaging 8 points and six rebounds.

After nearly two minutes of scoresless play in the opening round of the PSUAC tournament, Sophomore forward Kaitlyn Miller broke the ice on a feed from Freshman guard Haley Moreland.  Six seconds later, the game was tied, and the defensive stifling on both sides began.  With just over ten minutes remaining in the first half, the Lady Lions led 10-8.  Fayette built on that lead with a 12-5 run, capped off by a three pointer by Sophomore combo guard Courtney Haines.  

Hazleton rattled off a run of their own to finish the half, outscoring the Lady Lions 16-3 in the last six minutes of the first.  Haines paced Fayette in the opening act with 8 points.  Moreland added 7 points and 3 rebounds, while Miller chipped in 6 while pulling down 7 boards.  

Fayette used the first six minutes of the second stanza to trade baskets, while occassionally stealing and extra basket at times.  After a Moreland made three and another two by Freshman guard Ally Rudolph, The Lady Lions found themselves back in the lead for the first time in over ten minutes of game play.  

Hazleton answered with a quick striking 11 to 3 run, but was stopped even more abruptly by a long three point basket by Junior guard Kelsey Laurine.  Two more bombs by Rudolph and a mid-ranged jumper by Miller, and the Lady Lions found themselves in a dog fight.  At the five minute mark, the home team clung to a 56-52 lead.  The score would remain until just over 90 seconds to play in regulation.

A Hazleton made jump shot gave the host team a six point lead at the minute and a half mark.  Moreland set the offense, drew two defenders, and found Rudolph, who drained another long three.  Down 2 with just over a minute to play, the Lady Lions scrambled with a sense of urgency, yet stayed under control.  Fayette got the stop they needed, missed a jump shot to tie, lost the rebound, but forced a turnover.  

After another miss, the Lady Lions were forced to foul to stop the clock with :20 seconds left to play.  Hazleton missed the front end of a one and one, and interim Head Coach Jajuan Davis called a timeout to diagram a play.  Down three, Fayette ran their set down to the six second mark, where Rudolph nailed yet another long bomb, tieing the score at 58.  A Hazleton miss sent the game into bonus minutes.

Ten seconds into the extra period, Rudolph again felt the fire, and hit a long three pointer, putting Penn State Fayette ahead 61-58.  However, an eight to four Hazleton run would give the home team the 66-65 lead with 2:40 left in overtime.  There would be no more scoring, and the the Lady Lions of Fayette immediately began looking toward next month's USCAA National Championship Tournament, held at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus.  

The tournament's festivities will begin on March 3, with the skills competitions and awards banquets kicking off the week long event.