Roaring Lions Upset Bid Falls Short to No. 7 Southern Virginia, 83-76

January 20, 2012

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - Despite holding a 10-point advantage with nearly seven minutes left to play, Penn State Fayette (5-8, 4-0 PSUAC) could not overcome a late charge from no. 7 Southern Virginia, falling 83-76, in a non-conference game Friday night in the Community Center Main Arena.

The Roaring Lions matched a season-high with four players in double figures, but it was not enough as the Knights escaped with their sixth win of the season.

Sophomore Jill Guthrie (Uniontown, Pa.) scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and made five steals to lead Fayette. Junior Kaitlyn Novak's (Bobtown, Pa.) five three-point field goals were part of a 17 point night, and freshman Caitlin Wontroba (Uniontown, Pa.) added 14 points. Junior Kasey Ruble (Fairchance, Pa.) scored 13 points and dished out a game-high six assists for the Roaring Lions.

There were a total of nine ties and nine lead changes on the night, and a back and forth first half saw Fayette trailing, 38-36. An 8-0 Fayette run early in the second half gave the Roaring Lions a 47-40 advantage, but Southern Virginia battled back to tie the score at 49-49. Tied at 60 apiece, Fayette used a 10-0 run, including four points each from Guthrie and Ruble, to lead 70-60 with 7:47 remaining. But the Knights gradually chipped away at the lead, and tied the game at the two minute mark, 75-75. An 8-1 Southern Virginia run closed out the game.

Both teams were nearly even in shooting on the night, as Fayette went 28-for-72 from the field, including eight three-point field goals, and the Knights went 27-for-64, with five three's. But the difference came at the free-throw line, as Southern Virginia went to the charity stripe 31 times, making 24. Despite making 12 free throws, the Roaring Lions made only 16 trips to the line.

Southern Virginia used a size advantage to pull down 59 rebounds, including 21 offensive rebounds that turned into 22 second chance points for the Knights. Southern Virginia did turn the ball over 23 times, which Fayette turned into 30 points.

Nicole Baker led a trio of players with double-doubles for Southern Virginia, scoring 28 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Amaris Newkirk added 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Abigail Logan added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Fayette returns to action on Monday, Jan. 23 at 6:00 p.m. in a Western Division Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference showdown with Penn State Beaver.