The Penn State DuBois Lady Lion women's basketball team, coming off a (14-10) season last year, enters the 2017-18 schedule with high expectations. A return of several key players from last year's successful playoff run are joined by an influx of several talented freshman to fuel these expectations.
Leading the charge of the Lady Lions this year will be senior forward Grace Earle (6.1 ppg/4.5 rpg) (Cowanesque Valley HS). She will be joined by juniors, forward Melody Young (11.5 ppg/9.3 rpg) (Otto Eldred HS) and point guard Katie Williams (9.7 ppg/ 2.8 apg) (Eisenhower HS). The returning sophomores are guard Kashius Harris (7.2 ppg/5.0 rpg) (Beaver Falls HS) as well as last year's leading scorer, center Hope Bridge (12.0 ppg/7.4 rpg) (Punxsutawney HS).
This year's additions to the team are freshman guards Cierra O'Shell (Glendale HS) and Laura Fatula (DuBois HS) as well as forwards, Gracie Hamilton (Northern Potter HS), Lauren Young (Bellefonte HS), and Pitt-Titusville transfer Morgan Silvis (Forest Area HS).
Eleventh year head coach Pat Lewis has been happy with early season workouts. On his outlook for the upcoming season, he states, "Despite losing four very talented players from last year's team, the mix of veterans and members of this year's recruiting class should be able to pick up where we left off last season." He added, "We had a very respectable showing in our scrimmage against Penn College last week where we showed a strong ability to score points against a NCAA Division III program. We advanced to the PSUAC playoffs last season and would like to do so once again this year. We believe that we have the strength and depth this year to advance deeper into the playoffs and hopefully secure a national bid in the USCAA."
The Penn State DuBois Lady Lions will kick off their 2017-18 season with a home game this Tuesday, November 7th against Lorain CCC, Ohio. Game time will be at 6:00.