Bridge Leads DuBois Past Hazleton

Game 2 of the conference road trip for the DuBois Women's Basketball team was a little tougher, but the Lady Lions don't get scared off easily.  Although still sore from the game the previous night at Schuylkill, DuBois had to take mind over matter and prepare for Penn State Hazleton.

Coach Lewis knew his girls were ready for the fierce competition that lay ahead this day, and he was right.  Though Hazleton would take the first score on a 3-point shot by Lauren Pataki, DuBois Melody Young (Eldred, PA) would lock up 3 quick offensive rebounds, and 4 straight points to put her team up 4-3.  Maddie Sprankle (Johnstown, PA) would then hit a shot from beyond the arc off of a Kristen Williams (Sugar Grove, PA) assist, and now seemed like the Lady Lions never stopped from their outstanding performance just a night ago.

Hazleton wasn't about to be embarrassed on their home floor though, and Pataki kept on fighting to keep her team in the game.  Off a DuBois turnover, Hazleton went up 14-9.  DuBois's Hope Bridge (Punxsutawney, PA) was a very helpful presence inside however, as she started racking up the rebounds to keep her team going strong.  The score kept tight, and went back and forth, Sprankle hit another 3-pointer to tie the game at 18 off the assist from Bridge.  Bridge would fittingly hit the final shot of the first quarter as she ended the first ten minutes with 8 points and 6 rebounds, but Hazleton still held the lead, 21-20.

Some defensive adjustments by Coach Lewis brought some breathing room to his team in the second quarter.  Pushing their attack out made Hazleton shoot outside, but couldn't hit.  They would go through the second quarter shooting 0 for 9 from beyond the arc.  DuBois however, went 3 of 4 from the 3- point line with Makenzie Lukehart (Coalport, PA) hitting 2 of them.  Another strong rebounding quarter was in DuBois favor as well with 17. 

Hazleton was persistent, and had the game tied up at 36, until one of Lukehart's 3's started a 7-0 run for the DuBois Lady Lions.  Lukehart would hit another bucket with 12 seconds left in the half off a Gracie Hamilton (Ulysses, PA) assist.  Pataki put up a final 3-point attempt for Hazleton as time expired, but DuBois was the first half leader, as they went to the locker room up 45-38.

The third quarter was almost identical to the first, and both teams were playing to their hype.  Shot for shot was the story for the next ten minutes of play.  Sprankle made three quick lay-ups off of steals and assists by Kristen Williams (Sugar Grove, PA).  Williams would then drill a 3-pointer of her own off the Sprankle assist to put DuBois up, 54-42.

DuBois looked to run away with the game after Melody Young (Eldred, PA) hit a jumper to put her team up by 13 points, but Hazleton wasn't finished yet either.  A few turnovers, and a short cold spell from the field let Hazleton stay in the game a little longer than Coach Lewis would have liked, and Hazleton got out of the third quarter without damage, as they were still only down by 7.

A made 3-pointer, and lay-up from Kendra Pfeil and McKenzie Prutsman of Hazleton, had them back within 2 points of tying DuBois.  Another Williams three off of a Sprankle assist had DuBois fired up again though.  That scenario happened twice in the first 2:30 of the fourth quarter, and DuBois looked to pull away finally.

Free throws and rebounding were key in the fourth quarter, and DuBois did not disappoint.  They would go 9 of 12 from the charity stripe, and 26 rebounds in the fourth quarter alone.  Lauren Young (Bellefonte, PA) had 5 offensive and 2 defensive rebounds to seal the deal for her team. 

DuBois went on to win the PSUAC contest, 103-80.  Bridge would lead her team in scoring with 22 points, also pulling down 10 rebounds.  Both Williams and Sprankle ended the night with 18 points each, and had 5 and 7 assists, respectively.  Morgan Silvis (Tionesta, PA) had her second straight double-figure night in rebounding with 10, and Melody Young had a big night on the glass with a game high 14.  Young also added 11 points for DuBois.