DuBOIS, Pa. – The start of the conference season in the competitive Pennsylvania State University Athletics Conference (PSUAC) has seen both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Penn State DuBois get off to a rough start. Now, both the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions are looking to get back on the winning track before the end of semester break begins.
Last week, the Lady Lions played the first game of a weekend doubleheader on Friday when they visited Penn State Mont Alto. While the Lady Lions fought hard, they were unable to overcome a strong defensive effort from Penn State Mont Alto, falling 52-45 in a tightly contested game.
Sophomore forward Natalie Bowser led the charge for DuBois, delivering a dominant performance in the paint with 18 points and seven rebounds while shooting an impressive 7-of-8 from the field. Bowser’s efficiency kept the Lady Lions competitive in a game that saw both teams struggle with turnovers and shooting consistency.
Penn State DuBois started strong, taking an 11-10 lead after the first quarter behind disciplined team defense and crisp ball movement. However, Mont Alto capitalized on turnovers in the second quarter to outscore the Lady Lions 14-9, taking a four-point advantage into halftime.
Despite the deficit, DuBois clawed back in the third quarter, matching Mont Alto’s 16 points as Bowser and freshman forward Elizabeth Hungiville combined to control the boards. Hungiville contributed eight rebounds and four points while providing a physical presence inside.
Junior guard Frances Milliron added eight points and showed tenacity on defense with two steals, while Rebecca Martin chipped in six points, including two timely three-pointers that helped keep DuBois within striking distance.
Ultimately, Mont Alto’s ability to convert turnovers into points proved to be the difference, as they scored 28 points off 31 DuBois turnovers. DuBois struggled to generate offense in the fourth quarter, managing just nine points as Mont Alto’s defense tightened.
The second game of the weekend’s doubleheader saw Penn State DuBois visit Penn State York. The Lady Lions made a valiant fourth-quarter push but ultimately came up short in the contest, 55-50 on Saturday.
Hungiville shined for DuBois, recording a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds while playing 38 minutes. Her presence in the paint helped DuBois dominate second-chance opportunities, outscoring York 18-7 in that category.
The Lady Lions started strong, holding a 12-9 lead after the first quarter. However, a cold second quarter saw DuBois shoot just 13.3% from the field, allowing York to take control with a 22-point outburst and a 31-22 halftime lead.
Despite the struggles, DuBois showed resilience. Bowser contributed nine points and 14 rebounds, anchoring the Lady Lions defensively and keeping them within striking distance. Milliron added four points and a team-high five assists but struggled with turnovers as York’s defense forced DuBois into 29 giveaways, leading to 24 points for the home team.
Trailing by 12 entering the fourth quarter, DuBois surged back with a 20-point effort, fueled by improved shooting and timely three-pointers from Shannon Shaw and Rebecca Martin. Shaw finished with eight points, including two clutch triples, while Martin added six points.
York held off the rally thanks to balanced scoring, with four players reaching double figures, led by Olivia Sell’s 16 points and nine rebounds.