Women's Basketball falls to Cheyney U. 74-37

Hazleton, Pa. - The Nittany Lions dropped to 0-3 on the season with a non-conference defeat on Thursday night at the hands of Cheyney University. Hazleton played well defensively, holding the wolves to just 30 percent shooting on the night, but the Lions failed to keep control the ball, earning just 47 shots in Thursday's contest. Despite out-rebounding Cheyney and shooting 32 percent from the floor, Hazleton trailed throughout the night thanks to the defensive pressure of the Wolves who came away with a 74-37 win over the Lions. 

Cheyney was red hot out of the gates. The Wolves scored 16 straight points over a four minute stretch of play that resulted in an 18-2 advantage in the first quarter. Hazleton battled back late in the period and continued that momentum in the second quarter with two baskets from first year Aislinn Chaffin and a lay up by second year Brianna Kennedy that got Hazleton within eight points of the Wolves who led 25-17 six minutes remaining in the first half. But the Lions would turn the ball over on their next four possessions, allowing Cheyney on 9-0 run and ultimately a 14 point cushion at the midway point. 

Both offenses would stagnate out of the halftime break. The Wolves connected on two early buckets in the third period but would go over five minutes without a field goal and the Lions were unable to take advantage of the misfires and Cheyney made due at the free throw line to increase their lead to 21 points with one period to play. From that point on it was all Cheyney as they picked up the pressure on the Hazleton guards. The Wolves forced 12 turnovers in the period to extend their lead throughout the period, issuing the Lions a 74-37 loss. 

Aislinn Chaffin led the Hazleton offense on Thursday, notching 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. Kennedy totaled seven points with a team high 13 rebounds while second year Topaz Williams-Fripp registered nine points and 11 boards with fourth year Azaria Johnson rounding out the top efforts for Hazleton with eight points and 10 rebounds respectively. 

The Lions will look to get back on track as PSUAC play begins on Tuesday, November 19. Hazleton will host the conference opener against Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday with a 6:00 p.m. tip off in the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium.