PSUD Women Drop First Round PSUAC Playoff Game

PSUD suffered a first-round playoff loss by the score of 81-64 to PSU Hazleton on Wednesday night. The sixth seeded Penn State DuBois Women's Basketball team (14-10) traveled to third seed Penn State Hazleton (18-5) in the PSUAC Basketball Championships. Hazleton earned the home court advantage based on conference record.

DuBois never found their rhythm early in the first quarter as Hazleton jumped out to a quick 25-11 first quarter lead. Eight first quarter turnovers and a dismal 3-15 shooting performance from the field put the Lady Lions in a hole that would later be too much to overcome.

The next three quarters proved to be more competitive as Hazleton only outscored PSUD by the score of 56-53 over the final three frames. However, the fourteen point first quarter cushion that Hazleton built was never threatened.

Kristen Williams (Eisenhower) led three PSUD players in double figures with 11 points. Kashius Harris (Beaver Falls) followed with 10 points and Hope Bridge (Punxsutawney) collected a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Two other players registered double figures in rebounds as Melody Young (Otto Eldred) and Kaelyn Gruver (Redbank Valley) hauled in 10 each.

"I'm really sorry to see this season end", said PSUD Coach Pat Lewis. "This was a fantastic group of young ladies to work with this year. They were hard workers and played buzzer to buzzer. We will be losing Ashley Brown (Otto Eldred), Kristy Hanes (Elk County), Juli Vokes (Brockway), and Kaelyn Gruver to graduation. They will all be leaving with a Penn State Degree, and I am very proud of that!"

Lewis had this to say about the future of the program. "We have a very solid base to remain a strong, competitive program here at PSUD. Returning next year are Young, Grace Earle (Cowanesque Valley), Williams, Harris, and Bridge. We also have, what appears to be, a strong recruiting class coming in and we are planning to return to the playoffs again next season."