Women's Basketball returns from break to win first conference game of 2023-24
Hazleton, Pa. - Hazleton entered the fall break winless on the season and as play resumed on November 28, the Lions losing streak continued, dropping a pair of conference games to Penn State Mont Alto and Penn State Shenango. Hazleton had been playing much better in the recent contests, but a poor quarter here and there had kept them out of the win column. Following Hazleton's Friday night home loss to Shenango, the Lions picked up their first win of the season, topping Penn State New Kensington on their home court to stop the streak and wrap up this week's round of games.
Tuesday, November 28 - Penn State Hazleton 44, Penn State Mont Alto 52
Hazleton's only lead came early in the contest but the Lions were far from out of this one. Hazleton trailed but just four points at the half and cut that deficit to just two points entering the fourth quarter thanks in part to an eight point effort by third year player Azaria Johnson (Richmond Hill, Ga.) in the period. Hazleton was well within reach of capturing the road win, but Mont Alto came out in the fourt quarter, sinking a pair of triples and a second-chance put-back to up by 10 points, their largest lead of the night. Hazleton battled back to get within four points of Mont Alto but the slow start to the period spelled defeat for Hazleton who fell to 0-6 after the loss.
Johnson had her best night of the season in the loss, totaling 22 points with five rebounds and three steals. Third year player Tori Rabuck (Tower City, Pa.) added eight points and 11 rebounds while first year player Jaden Jones (Urbana, Oh.) garnered six points and six rebounds.
Friday, December 1 - Penn State Shenango 66, Penn State Hazleton 56
Friday night's game proved to be a back and forth contest as the Lions looked to break away for their first win of the season. This game featured 12 lead changes and saw the Lions carry a one point advantage into the fourth quarter. Hazleton shot over 45 percent in the final period but 10 turnovers and 12 personal fouls turned the tides in the favor of Shenango who sank 11 free throws on their way to a 25 point fourth quarter. That effort allowed the visitors to retake and expand their lead to as many as 10 points, ultimately resulting in a 66-56 defeat of Hazleton.
First year player Bry'Yasia Costen (Charleston, Sc.) led Hazleton in scoring on the night, notching 22 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Third year players Azaria Johnson and Tori Rabuck both finished in double figures offensively with Johnson totaling 12 points with nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks while Rabuck added 11 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
Saturday, December 2 - Penn State New Kensington 48, Penn State Hazleton 58
After a slow start to the game, Hazleton dominated play in the middle quarters allowing Hazleton to lead by five points at halftime and 15 points after the third quarter of play. Hazleton got a combined 21 from Tori Rabuck and Jaden Jones over that stretch and following a 6-1 run to start the fourth quarter, the Lions held a 20 point advantage with eight minutes remaining in the contest. New Kensington would go on to hold Hazleton scoreless for over a five minute period of play midway through the fourth which allowed the visitors to creep with eight points of Hazleton, but a late jumper by Costen and a pair of free throws by Jaden Jones late in the action sealed up Hazleton's first win of the season.
Jones's late makes at the charity stripe gave her the team lead in the scoring column on Saturday with the first year player racking up 15 points to go along with 11 rebounds for a double-double. Tori Rabuck added a double-double of her own with 14 points and 13 rebounds while Costen notched 12 points in the win.
Next Up: Hazleton will wrap up the fall semester with three games next week. The Lions begin the final stretch of fall play with a home contest on Tuesday, December 5 on their home court vs. Penn State Schuylkill before hitting the road on the weekend to face Penn State Greater Allegheny and Penn State DuBois.