Lady Roaring Lions Finishes Off their Season on a High Note
LEMONT FURNACE, PA – After an exciting week participating in and hosting the USCAA National Basketball Tournament, the Lady Roaring Lions walked away with a win and a loss to officially close out the Spring 2016 season. To kick off the tournament, Penn State Fayette women ranking eighth, played the number one seed in the USCAA, College of St. Joseph's (Vermont) on Thursday night, March 3rd, at 6pm.
St. Joseph's Fighting Saints led the majority of the game with Fayette tying it up a couple of times in the first quarter, never too far behind. Once the buzzer for the fourth quarter commenced, St. Joseph's shot forward bringing in 31 points in the last quarter to win the game 81-56.
Both teams had a player posting a double-double, Regina Steele for St. Joseph's had 16 points and 19 rebounds while Taylor Smith recorded an even 10 points and 10 rebounds. Smith also shot a perfect game from the foul line. In the third quarter, Taylor Smith was welcomed into the 1000 point club, as a junior, after draining a layup.
It was a consistent game from the free throw line for both teams. Fayette went 64.3% and St. Joseph's made 73.9% of their free throws. Under the hoop, both teams came up nearly even gathering up 15 offensive rebounds apiece and 36 defensive for Fayette while the Fighting Saints only had 31.
Four of St. Joseph's starters were in double digits on the scoreboard with Jazsala Laracuente leading the way with 22 points and Arreonte Anderson showing 17. Over on the other side of the court, the Lady Roaring Lions were also shooting in double digits with Courtney Haines leading the team with 13 points.
Unfortunately, due to the loss, the Penn State Fayette women's basketball team did not advance into the next round, but did have the opportunity to redeem themselves in the consolation round against the University of Maine Augusta on Friday, March 4th at 4pm.
The University of Maine Augusta entered into the tournament ranked fourth in the USCAA, was upset by # 5 Penn State Beaver in the first round of playoffs, leaving them to play Penn State Fayette in the consolation bracket.
Fayette came into the game fired up and came to play, outscoring the Maine Augusta Moose 14 to 8 in the first quarter and still up by 8 points at the half. The Maine Augusta Ladies regrouped at half time, however, ready to make a comeback tallying up 19 points in the third quarter. Throughout the entirety of the game the teams switched leading 4 ties and kept the fans on the edge of their seats tying it up a total of 8 times. In the end, Fayette came out on top snatching up the 61-56 win.
The bench was strong that night for Fayette with both Lyndsey Huhn and Taylor Smith bringing in a team high of 15 points each, together making up half of their total points scored. Courtney Haines also stood out sinking all six of her free throws gathering up 13 points. Out on the three point line, Ally Rudolph drained three to help her accumulate 11 points that game.
The Moose had the leading scorer of the game with 21 points was Darby Toth. Half of her points were thanks to her composure from the free throw line. Caitlin LaFountain also contributed with her 11 points.
Taking control under the basket, three players tied for the most rebounds (11); Shannon Flament for Fayette and Morgan Card and Caitlin LaFountain for Maine Augusta who had a double-double that night.
Both teams were poised and controlled draining an impressive 71.4% from the free throw line for the Lady Roaring Lions and an even 72% for the Moose.
The Fayette women's basketball team finished out the season strong with a win, coming in 7th in the USCAA National Basketball Tournament with an overall record of 13-12.