Hazleton tops Wilkes-Barre 71-65 for first win of the season

Hazleton, Pa. - The Hazleton Nittany Lions picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday, topping Penn State Wilkes-Barre in the conference opener. Hazleton led early in the battle, carrying a 13 point advantage into the half time break. Wilkes-Barre closed the gap late but in the end, Hazleton's 20-for-23 effort at the free throw line proved to the difference in this one, as Hazleton secured the win by a score of 71-65. 

Second year Brianna Kennedy and fourth year Azaria Johnson dominated the game in the first half. Johnson struck for 14 first half points, including a 6-for-6 run at the charity stripe while Kennedy notched 15 points in the first half, adding six rebounds and four steals as Hazleton steadily increased their lead throughout the half. The Lions held Wilkes-Barre to just 28 percent shooting in the half and forced 15 turnovers in the first and second quarters. Hazleton took their first double-figure advantage late in the first quarter and went up by 13 on two occasions in the second period, including a pair of free throws at the end of the quarter by Johnson that put the Lions up 35-22 at the break. 

Hazleton led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter but Wilkes-Barre would make a run midway through the period. Hazleton broke a 9-0 run by the visitors with a pair of free throws and a triple from first year Aislinn Chaffin that pushed their lead back to double figures and the teams would trade baskets through the end of the third period. Wilkes-Barre battled back in the fourth quarter to get within four points of the Nittany Lions but a strong shooting effort from second year Topaz Williams-Fripp who went 3-for-5 in the period and clutch baskets from Chaffin and second year Lillian Whitenight stymied their comeback. Johnson connected on 6-of-6 from the line in the final 1:15 of play to keep Hazleton on top and secure the win. 

Johnson finished the game a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line totaling 22 points with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals to her credit. Kennedy led all scorers on the night with 23 points on 9-20 shooting, adding a game-high 15 rebounds and six steals in the win. Chaffin and Williams-Fripp registered 10 points each to round out the top performers in the Nittany Lions first win of the season. 

Hazleton will return to the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium on Thursday night when the Lions take on Bryn Athyn College at 6:00 p.m.