Penn State DuBois basketball teams pick up wins in PSUAC play

DuBOIS, Pa. — For the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Penn State DuBois, the month of January typically means that games within the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) come quickly and often. This means momentum is important to keep moving up the standings within the conference. Entering last week, both the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions were looking to pick up some wins that would help them improve their position in the PSUAC.

The Lady Lions began the week by traveling to face Penn State Fayette away from home. Thanks to a commanding performance on the boards and standout play from sophomore forward Natalie Bowser, DuBois secured a decisive 63-45 victory over Fayette on Jan. 21.

Bowser led the charge with a double-double, tallying 27 points on an efficient 12-of-15 shooting and grabbing a game-high 20 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end. Her dominance in the paint helped the Lady Lions out-rebound Fayette 54-28 and generate 33 second-chance points.

The Lady Lions' defense was equally impressive, holding Fayette to just 30.8% shooting from the field and forcing 20 turnovers. Shannon Shaw and Elizabeth Hungiville contributed on both ends, with Shaw pulling down eight rebounds and scoring five points, while Hungiville added eight points, eight rebounds and three steals. From beyond the arc, senior Kelsey Stuart provided a spark off the bench, hitting 2-of-4 3-pointers for six points. Fellow bench contributor Tara Leamer chipped in four points and five rebounds, helping the Lady Lions' reserves outscore Fayette's bench 19-0. Freshman guard Eden Wonderling showcased her versatility, recording five points, four rebounds and one assist, while sophomore guard Hailey Theuret added four points and three assists.

Penn State DuBois set the tone early, taking a 16-14 lead after the first quarter and expanding it to 34-22 by halftime, thanks to an 18-point second quarter. Fayette attempted a comeback in the third quarter but was stifled by the Lady Lions' defensive intensity, limiting them to eight points in the final period.

For Fayette, Sophia Zalar led with 17 points and 13 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to match DuBois' balanced attack.

Looking to use all of their positive momentum to their advantage, Penn State DuBois welcomed Penn State Greater Allegheny on Saturday for another contest within the PSUAC. The Lady Lions delivered a dominant performance on their home court, defeating Greater Allegheny 76-54.

DuBois showcased a balanced offensive attack, with four players scoring in double figures and the bench contributing 29 points. Hungiville led the charge, posting 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting while adding nine rebounds and three blocks. Bowser continued her strong play, recording a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. She also demonstrated her efficiency at the free-throw line, sinking 5-of-6 attempts. Wonderling contributed 12 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and knocking down a 3-pointer. Guard Reagan Slawson provided a spark off the bench, scoring eight points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting performance.

The Lady Lions established their dominance early, outscoring Greater Allegheny 17-12 in the first quarter and exploding for 30 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 47-24 halftime lead. Penn State DuBois kept the momentum through the third quarter, scoring 21 points while holding Greater Allegheny to just nine.

Greater Allegheny was led by Tomisha Pierce, who scored a game-high 34 points, including eight 3-pointers. However, her efforts were not enough to overcome DuBois' depth and defensive effort.

The Lady Lions dominated in the paint, outscoring Greater Allegheny 36-14 and pulling down 44 rebounds compared to 23 for the visitors. DuBois also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 12 points off 13 offensive rebounds.

For the men’s team, Penn State DuBois traveled to face Penn State Fayette away from home on Jan. 21. The Nittany Lions displayed an explosive offense in their 101-85 victory over Fayette.

Senior forward Beau Verdill led the charge with a dominant double-double, scoring a game-high 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting and pulling down 11 rebounds. He also added two assists and three steals in 27 minutes. Junior guard Niare Poplar matched Verdill’s scoring prowess, pouring in 21 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Kaleb Pryor showcased his sharpshooting, hitting four 3-pointers en route to his 21-point performance.

DuBois’ bench provided a crucial spark, contributing 26 points. Sophomore Cole Love added nine points, including a clutch 3-pointer, while junior Nate Cornelius chipped in eight points and three rebounds. The Nittany Lions took control early, outscoring Fayette 45-27 in the first half. DuBois shot 45.8% from the field and 72.2% from the free-throw line, compared to Fayette’s 40.9% shooting overall. The Nittany Lions capitalized on turnovers, scoring 30 points off Fayette’s 23 miscues.

Fayette’s offense came alive in the second half, narrowing the deficit behind Dasilas Jones’ 30-point performance and Jesse Lawson Jr.’s 26 points. However, DuBois’ defensive pressure and consistent scoring proved too much for Fayette to overcome.

Feeling good after the win to start the week, Penn State DuBois readied for a match up with Penn State Greater Allegheny on Saturday. The two team have matched up for some memorable games over the past few seasons, often being very closely contested. In this game, DuBois surged to an 88-76 victory against Greater Allegheny in a high-energy contest at the PAW Center. A dominant first-half performance and contributions from both starters and bench players secured the win for DuBois.

DuBois jumped out to a commanding 49-31 lead at halftime, thanks to their sharp shooting and defensive tenacity. Despite Greater Allegheny narrowing the gap in the second half, DuBois maintained control to close out the game.

Senior guard Jordin Sommers demonstrated poise on both ends of the court, scoring 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and adding four assists and three steals. Poplar led all DuBois scorers with 18 points, hitting three shots from beyond the arc while grabbing six rebounds and tallying five steals. Verdill contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and six steals, showcasing his defensive prowess. Ashton Fortson added 13 points and six rebounds, while Pryor contributed 14 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. The DuBois bench also played a crucial role, contributing 21 points. Love stood out with eight points and three steals, while Cornelius chipped in seven points and three rebounds.

Penn State DuBois capitalized on Greater Allegheny’s 28 turnovers, converting them into 35 points. DuBois’ defensive pressure also resulted in 21 steals, exemplifying their aggressive play style. Although Greater Allegheny outscored DuBois 54-36 in the paint, DuBois’ perimeter shooting and transition offense proved decisive.

Bryce Phillips was the standout for Greater Allegheny, leading all scorers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to overcome DuBois’ balanced attack.

With both the men’s and women’s teams riding winning streaks, both teams face two key PSUAC matchups this week. They Lady Lions, who have now won four straight games and currently hold a 7-8 record for the season, will travel to face Penn State Shenango on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Then, the team will return home to host Penn State Beaver at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, in the PAW Center.

The Nittany Lions, who are on a two-game win streak of their own and see their record for the season currently at 6-13, also will travel to face Penn State Shenango on Wednesday, Jan. 29. That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. They will then return home to host Penn State Beaver for a 3 p.m. tip off on Saturday, Feb. 1, in the PAW Center.

For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.