No. 3. Lady Lions fall to Division III foe Wilkes University in 63-58 nailbiter

No. 3. Lady Lions fall to Division III foe Wilkes University in 63-58 nailbiter

Team Stats

January 18, 2016

HAZLETON, Pa. - No. 3 Penn State Hazleton suffered their first defeat in more than two months at the hands of NCAA Division III foe Wilkes University, falling 63-58 in a women's non-conference contest Monday night in the Dr. Thomas Caccese Gymnasium. 

The story of the game was its physicality, as each team reached the free throw line 27 times and combined for 49 fouls. Neither team took advantage of their free 15-footers, but the Lady Lions struggled a bit more as they lost for only the second time this season. 

Hazleton (12-2, 5-0 PSUAC) finished 14-for-27 from the charity stripe as six misses late in the second quarter came back to haunt them at the end. Wilkes was slightly better at the free throw line, and it made a difference. The Colonels made 18, four more than Hazleton in what finished as a five point margin. The rest of the game, and the rest of the stat line, was very even.

Wilkes made 21 shots from the field, Hazleton hit 20. The Lady Lions sunk four three-pointers, Wilkes had three. Wilkes rebounds--45; Hazleton--44. Turnovers? Both finished with 18. Steals were 11-8 in Hazleton's favor while Wilkes spread the ball around a little better, finishing with 17 assists to Hazleton's nine. All in all an even ball game, except the makes at the free throw line. 

Senior Alexis Daly (Wyalusing, Pa.) finished with a team-high 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and while every one of her teammates scored at least four points no one else finished in double figures. Freshman McKenzie Prutsman (Jasper, NY) scored nine points, grabbed four boards and dished out three assists to go with three steals. Junior Stephanie Guevara (North Brunswick, NJ) finished with a team-high five assists and four steals.

Catey McFadden led all scorers with 16 for the Colonels while teammate Ashley Caster finished with 13. 

Next Up: Hazleton sticks around the home floor for a showdown with rival Penn State Schuylkill on Wednesday, Jan. 18th. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.