Penn State DuBois sophomore guard Hailey Theuret protects her dribble while looking inside the lane for a teammate during a recent basketball game at the PAW Center.
DuBOIS, Pa. — With only a month left in the regular season, the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Penn State DuBois are riding high and making moves up the division standings in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC). Both teams came into last week on multiple-game win streaks and looked to keep that momentum going as the calendar flipped to February.
The week began on Wednesday for the Lady Lions when they visited Penn State Shenango. A late push by DuBois wasn’t enough to overcome Shenango, as the Lady Lions fell 67-51 on the road.
Natalie Bowser led the charge for DuBois with 13 points and seven rebounds, shooting an efficient 7-for-10 from the free-throw line. Elizabeth Hungiville was a force on the boards, securing a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with two points, three steals, and a block. Rebecca Martin provided a spark off the bench, knocking down three 3-pointers on her way to nine points. Freshman Reagan Slawson also made an impact, tallying nine points on 3-for-5 shooting.
After struggling offensively in the first three quarters, DuBois found its rhythm in the fourth, outscoring Shenango 21-12. The Lady Lions shot 35.3% from the field in the final frame, their best mark of the game. However, Shenango capitalized on turnovers, converting 24 DuBois miscues into 24 points. Defensively, DuBois forced 17 turnovers and recorded nine steals, with Bowser leading the team with five. However, Shenango’s Shar’Da Williamson proved too much to handle, finishing with a game-high 17 points.
Following the loss that saw its four-game win streak end, Penn State DuBois looked to get back on the winning track when it hosted Penn State Beaver on Saturday at the PAW Center. Beaver, who came into the game ranked eighth nationally, has been a perennial power in the PSUAC for many years. A hard fought, back and forth game saw DuBois pull the upset over Beaver, 65-62, in a thrilling contest.
Hungiville led the Lady Lions with a double-double, tallying 16 points and a game-high 20 rebounds. Bowser also made her presence felt inside, adding 11 points and 13 rebounds. Martin provided a spark off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers on her way to a 14-point outing.
The Lady Lions controlled the glass, out-rebounding Beaver 55-34, which led to 23 second-chance points. Despite committing 34 turnovers, DuBois made up for it with strong shooting in the second quarter, hitting 47.4% from the field to take a 36-30 halftime lead.
Beaver stayed in the game behind a balanced attack, with Bailey Rieg leading the way with 16 points. The visitors forced 34 turnovers, converting them into 27 points, but struggled at the free-throw line, making just 43.8% of their attempts.
In a tight fourth quarter, DuBois held off a late Beaver rally with timely defensive stops and clutch free throws down the stretch. The supportive and passionate home crowd also helped the Lady Lions bring home the victory.
Penn State DuBois sophomore guard Kaleb Pryor drives toward the lane and passes the ball to a teammate during a recent basketball game at the PAW Center.
The men’s team at Penn State DuBois followed the same schedule as the women’s team, starting its week with a Wednesday showdown with Penn State Shenango. A dominant second-half performance powered the Nittany Lions to a 94-89 comeback win over Shenango at the Buhl Club.
Trailing by 11 at halftime, DuBois surged in the final 20 minutes, outscoring Shenango 57-41. Niare Poplar led the charge with a double-double, scoring 23 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. Beau Verdill added 12 points, knocking down four of five attempts from beyond the arc, while Cole Love contributed 13 points off the bench.
Shenango started strong, fueled by Izzy Santiago’s 20-point, 16-rebound double-double. D’Montez Owens led all scorers with 21 points, and Malik Davis chipped in 16. However, DuBois capitalized on depth, outscoring Shenango’s bench 40-9.
Despite struggling early, DuBois found its rhythm in the second half, shooting 56.4% from the field and 36.4% from 3-point range. The visitors also won the battle inside, outscoring Shenango 38-30 in the paint.
Penn State DuBois looked to keep its winning run going when it hosted Penn State Beaver on Saturday at the PAW Center. The Nittany Lions secured an 81-71 victory over Beaver in front of their home crowd.
DuBois took control early, building a 45-32 lead at halftime behind efficient shooting and a strong defensive presence. Kaleb Pryor led the charge with a game-high 22 points, knocking down two 3-pointers and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Verdill contributed 12 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field, while Love provided a spark off the bench with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The Lions shot 49.2% from the field overall and held Penn State Beaver to just 16.7% from 3-point range.
Defensively, DuBois capitalized on turnovers, scoring 22 points off Beaver’s 19 giveaways. Despite a second-half push from Beaver, which shot 53.3% in the final period, DuBois maintained its composure at the free-throw line, converting 80% of its attempts.
Beaver was led by Alex Green’s 16 points off the bench, while Trevor Franklin and Jabari Gayle each scored 13. However, DuBois’ defensive efforts, including 11 steals and six blocks, proved too much for the visitors.
With both teams picking up wins to end last week, both the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions will look to continue their winning ways this week. The women’s team will first travel to Penn State New Kensington on Tuesday, Feb. 4, for a 6 p.m. start time. Then, the team will return home to the PAW Center where it will welcome Penn State Fayette on Saturday, Feb. 8. That game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
The men’s team will following a similar schedule, starting its week by visiting Penn State New Kensington on Tuesday, Feb. 4, for an 8 p.m. tip off. Then, the Nittany Lions will travel again on Wednesday, Feb. 5, when they visit Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). IUP, an NCAA Division II institution, will represent another strong test for the Nittany Lions this season. Finally, DuBois will come back home to host Penn State Fayette on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m.
For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.
