WBB Finishes 9th in the Nation at USCAA Tournament

The Penn State Fayette women's basketball team concluded its season with a 48-43 win over Five Towns College in a United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournament consolation game.

"It was great to close the season with a win," said head coach Scott Hillen.  "We fought hard and our defense carried us."

Neither team led the contest by more than seven points and the game was close throughout.  Fayette held a 7-5 lead after the first quarter, but Five Towns took an 18-13 lead into the half.  Fayette's 17-12 advantage in the third quarter tied the game at 30-30 going into the fourth, and Fayette outscored Five Towns 18-13 in the fourth to put the game away.

The game wasn't pretty as both teams shot under 30 percent, but Fayette made enough shots and played shutdown defense when needed to secure the win.  The Nittany Lions (16-10) shot 28.1 percent (16-57) while holding Five Towns to 21.3 percent (16-75).  Five Towns had 18 more shots, but that was partly to Fayette turning the ball over 28 times. 

"The team struggled offensively, but we made enough plays to get the job done," Hillen said.  "However, I feel we played great team defense and that was the difference in the game.  I am proud of the team for fighting through the game, and I feel players stepped up as needed with Taylor (McCormick) out."

Part of Fayette's offensive struggles was because it played without McCormick (Laurel, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt HS), the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) scoring leader, who missed the game due to an ankle injury.  While turning Five Towns over 19 times, Fayette's biggest advantage was on the boards as it outrebounded Five Towns, 59-46.  Morgan Rigsby (West Portsmith, OH/West Portsmith HS) and Abby Bickerton (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward HS) set career highs on the glass as Rigsby grabbed a team-high 18 rebounds while Bickerton grabbed 15.

"Morgan and Abby were monsters on the board," Hillen said.  "They battled and fought hard."

Ally Boykin (Canton, OH/Canton McKinley HS) and Carissa Cyphert (Scottdale, PA/Southmoreland HS) led Fayette with 14 points apiece with Boykin adding four steals.  Cyphert's 14 points were a season high.

"Carissa had one of her best games ever in her last collegiate basketball game, and she really stepped up," Hillen said.  "She and Ally led us in scoring and I am so proud of them."

With the win, Fayette finishes ninth in the USCAA.  Now that the 2021-22 season has concluded, Hillen will dive into recruiting and is looking to add pieces to get the team back to the USCAA tournament next season.  But for now, he shared his pride in this year's team.

"This was a good way to end the season for the team," he said.  "They worked hard and we went through a lot, but I am so proud of every single player on this team."

For more information on the women's basketball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/wbkb/index or follow us on Instagram @fayetteathletics.

For more information on the USCAA, go to https://www.theuscaa.com/landing/index.  For more information on the USCAA national championships, go to https://basketball.theuscaa.com/landing/index.