2014-15 Women's Basketball Season In Review
Penn State Hazleton finished the 2014-15 season with a 19-8 record (12-4 PSUAC), including a run to the Penn State University Athletic Conference title game and a birth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament. Led by experienced players, the Lady Lions battled their way through highlights and hardships to the most successful season in the programs history.
The Not So Good:
The Lady Lions began their season with uncertainty as Coach Kevin Kringe departed the role of head coach in the fall to pursue other opportunities. Fortunately, veteran coaches Cy Fulton and Patrice Lombard were able to assume coaching duties, reuniting the tandem with former players from 2012.
Two player losses greatly impacted the teams effectiveness. Freshman Jackie Siva-Harrison was lost for the second half of the season after averaging nearly 10 points and 5 rebounds per game and the loss of freshman Angie Torres shortened an already slim bench. The loss of both players became glaring in second half box scores. A shortened bench restricted freedom of play when foul trouble arose and ultimately, extended minutes wore down the offensive effectiveness as the team's shooting percentage dropped from 44.5 percent in the first half of the season, to 33.8 percent in the second half and postseason play.
The Good:
The Lady Lions 2014-15 campaign was certainly one to remember. During the course of an 11-1 start to the season, teammates, junior Alexis Daly and senior Taylor Cannon surpassed the career 1,000 point mark in consecutive games at PSU York and home against PSU Worthington Scranton. Despite battling a short bench in the second half of the season, the squad continued its winning ways through the month of January with a 16-2 record, remaining one of the top ranked teams in the USCAA. After losing 3 of 4 games to end the regular season, the Lady Lions played inspired basketball to edge PSU Fayette in overtime to gain their first postseason win in PSUAC competition. Four days later, the squad would add to the drama, completing a momentous comeback victory as they toppled top-seeded PSU Brandywine on their home court to advance to the first PSUAC final in school history. With great lament, their sensational run would come to an end at the hands of PSU Beaver with the Lions falling in the final 82-68 in the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. The loss notwithstanding, the teams fine play earned them a trip to Uniontown, PA to participate in the USCAA National Tournament, but the toll from the long season finally caught up with Hazleton, as injuries led to an early exit at the hands of Albany College in Round 1.
Two outstanding seniors wrapped up their careers at Hazleton in 2014-15. Christine Soltys scored 171 points on the year for the Lions, playing an integral role handling the ball for Hazleton, leading the team in assists. Taylor Cannon concludes a tremendous career for the Lady Lions as a 3-time USCAA Academic All-American. In a season filled with great memories, Cannon posted 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hazleton comeback against Brandywine in the semi-finals, and scored a season high 31 points in the PSUAC finale. For the season, Taylor averaged just under 13 points and 8 rebounds per game, earning her 2nd team all-conference honors. Cannon departs Hazleton becoming the 4th player in program history to surpass 1,000 points and finishes her career as the 2nd all-time leading scorer in campus history.
Alexis Daly compiled another outstanding season in the Lady Lion uniform. The junior averaged a double-double in 2014-15 posting 16.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to lead the team. Daly became the 3rd player to pass 1,000 career points and at seasons end, became the all-time leading scorer at Penn State Hazleton. Daly scored season highs with 34 points and 21 rebounds to lead her team to the overtime victory over Penn State Fayette on her way to Player of the Year honors in the PSUAC and a 3rd consecutive nod as a first team USCAA All-American.
The Future:
The Lady Lions look to continue their success from recent years aiming for the coveted PSUAC Championship Trophy. Alexis Daly will enter her final year looking to make it her finest and continue to rewrite the record books. Sophomore Stephanie Guevara returns in the fall to handle the ball along with freshman Ally Vincent and Kamryn Dodd.