Fayette Drops First Conference Game to Penn State Beaver, 74-68

January 23, 2012

MONACA, Pa. - Despite four players in double figures, Penn State Fayette (5-9, 4-1 PSUAC) couldn't withstand a second half surge from rival Penn State Beaver, falling 74-68, in a Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference Western Division showdown in Beaver Field House on Monday night.

The Roaring Lions used a strong start to lead 9-0 early before extending their lead to fifteen at 22-7, with just under 8:30 left in the first half. But Beaver chipped away at the Fayette lead, and the Roaring Lions took a slim 38-34 advantage into the break.

Fayette used another solid start to the second half, leading 51-43 with just over 14 minutes to play. But the Lady Lions used an 18-4 run midway through the second half to lead 61-55 with just over 8:30 to play.

Freshman Caitlin Wontroba (Uniontown, Pa.), who led Fayette with 20 points, used a lay-up and three-point field goal to pull Fayette within one, 61-60, but a 9-0 Beaver run gave the Lady Lions a 70-60 lead with just under three minutes to play.

Fayette received 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds from junior Kaitlyn Novak (Bobtown, Pa.), and senior Jennifer Thomas (Uniontown, Pa.) added 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Roaring Lions. Sophomore Jill Guthrie (Uniontown, Pa.) scored 11 points and made four steals for Fayette before fouling out. Junior Kasey Ruble (Fairchance, Pa.) notched a season-high eight assists.

The Roaring Lions struggled on the glass, as Beaver grabbed 52 rebounds, including 24 on the offensive side which led to 19 second-chance points for the Lady Lions. Both teams struggled shooting from the field, as neither topped 35 percent. Fayette went 23-for-67, good for 34 percent, while the Lady Lions shot 31 percent, making 21 shots in 67 attempts. The difference, however, came at the free throw line, as Beaver made 26 free throws in 35 attempts. Fayette went 17-for-25, a nine-point spread.

Beaver was led by Amanda Temple with a game-highs of 32 points and 14 rebounds. Temple was one of three Lady Lions with a double-double, as teammates Brittany Tomaselli and Brooke Mulneix notched double digits in points and rebounds. Mulneix grabbed 13 rebounds to go with her 18 points, while Tomaselli added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Fayette returns to action at Penn State Hazleton on Friday, Jan. 27 at 6:00 p.m. The game marks the first of two crossover match-ups over this weekend's eastern swing, as the Roaring Lions will face-off with Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1:00 p.m.