Lady Lions bounce back to top Greater Allegheny 79-55

McKeesport, Pa. - Following a difficult loss the previous night, the Lady Lions came out roaring on Saturday afternoon at Penn State Greater Allegheny. Hazleton stormed ahead in the game's opening minutes, led by a nine point first quarter effort from junior Jacqlyn Siva-Harrison (South Brunswick, Nj.). The Lady Lions built on that first quarter effort over the next two frames to open up a comfortable cushion and glide to the final horn for a 79-55 win.

The Lady Lions picked up 17 steals in Saturday's contest and out-shot Greater Allegheny 41.9 percent to just 26 percent for the home squad en route to Hazleton's first Penn State University Athletic Conference victory of the season. 

Top Performers

Senior Stephanie Guevara (New Brunswick, Nj.) and sophomore Haley Nalls (York, Pa.) both tallied double-doubles for Hazleton in the win. Guevara raked in a team high 13 rebounds, adding 15 points, seven assists and five steals, while Nalls was the steady scorer all game knocking in nine field goals in 17 attempts for 19 points and totaling 10 rebounds. Siva-Harrison suffered foul trouble for the second straight contest, but still managed to fill the box score, netting 15 points, eight rebounds, four blocked shots and five steals for the Lady Lions. Sophomore McKenzie Prutsman (Jasper, Ny.) got off to a slow start, but warmed up in the middle quarters to go for a team high 22 points, shooting just over 64 percent from the floor.

Greater Allegheny was led by Ronnie Upsher who had a game high 24 points with 10 rebounds. Mandi Johnston and Jess Manfredi both added 12 points each to round out the top scorers for the home team. 

1st Half

Greater Allegheny scored the game's first bucket but the Lady Lions would hold the home team to just two more field goals in the final nine minutes and change of the first quarter. Siva-Harrison and Nalls combined for 15 first quarter points and Hazleton finished the period on a 9-0 run capped by a Guevara lay-up to command a 23-8 first quarter advantage.

When play resumed, Siva-Harrison and freshman Shelby Berger (Weatherly, Pa.) tacked on field goals to extend Hazleton's run to 13-0 before Greater Allegheny got back on the scoreboard. McKenzie Prutsman slashed for three lay-ups in the period, bolstering the Hazleton lead to 39-22 at the midway point. 

2nd Half

Prutsman continued to wreak havoc on Greater Allegheny in the third quarter as she struck for three lay-ups off turnovers she created in the Greater Allegheny back court. With little more than three minutes to play in the period, Stephanie Guevara had been relatively quiet to this point, but that would change as senior smartly took advantage of fouls committed by Greater Allegheny. With Hazleton in the bonus, Guevara sank four from the charity stripe, then continued to attack the hoop, notching three late field goals including an old fashioned three point play to put Hazleton up by as many as 29 points in the quarter. With the game's outcome all but secured, Hazleton coasted through the fourth period to pick up the win.

Next Up

The Lady Lions continue PSUAC play at home on Tuesday, December 6 when they face Penn State Worthington Scranton. Tip-off slated for 6:00 p.m. in the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium.