Men's and Women's Teams Bring Home the Hardware
For the first time in PSUAC history, both the men's and women's basketball trophies (President's Trophy) are housed in the same gym. On Tuesday, February 24, 2009 Penn State Beaver captured both titles in the Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State University Park.
The Lady Lions played first with a 10:30 a.m. tip-off and defeated Penn State Schuylkill, 75-58. From the start, Beaver led with a 13-3 run. Junior Laura Perkins (Monaca High School, Monaca, PA) led the early charge, scoring 7 of Beaver's first 13 points. Schuylkill put together a run of their own to pull within 4 points, scoring 6 unanswered points, and moving the score to 13-9. From there the Lady Lions went to work, methodically building on their lead to 20 points by halftime (40-20).
The second half went back and forth, with both teams making runs. Schuylkill pulled within 11 twice, once at the 9-minute mark and again at the 5-minute mark of the second half. However, Perkins answered the Schuylkill rally once again by draining yet another 3-point shot and sophomore Heather Sandusky (New Brighton High School, New Brighton, PA) capped the scoring with a 3-pointer of her own with under 30 seconds to go, giving Beaver the PSUAC Championship.
Sophomore guard Jasmine Green (Orange High School, Allentown, PA) recorded her second career triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists). Perkins had a career best with 18 points on 7-12 shooting from the field. She was 4 for 7 from behind the arc and Sandusky added 18 points. Freshman Katie Landis (Rochester High School, Rochester, PA) grabbed 10 rebounds.
This victory marked the Beaver Lady Lions' second straight PSUAC Championship in what is only the team's second year of competition.
Following the women's game, it was the men's turn to capture a crown of their own when they defeated Penn State Hazleton, 86-70. From the opening tip, Beaver was smoking hot, as freshman Tony Houghton (Perry Traditional Academy, Pittsburgh, PA) led the way early with a deep 3-point shot from the wing and several strong drives to the rim. The Lions started the game on a 22-5 run in which all five starters scored. Beaver kept the lead at 20 most of the first half, and led at halftime, 45-23.
In the second half, Beaver pushed the lead to as much as 30 points by the 15-minute mark. Hazelton still made a sizable run as they converted free throws and layups and with 2:30 left in the game, Hazleton cut the lead to 10 points, but the Beaver Lions responded with an 8-0 run of their own to seal the victory and capture their first PSUAC title.
Junior Zac Fetchin (Hopewell High School, Aliquippa, PA) led all scorers with 28, Houghton added 19 points, and sophomore Chancelor Humphrey (Hopewell High School, Aliquippa, PA) added 14. Fetchin grabbed 9 rebounds and junior Tim Kubis (Hopewell High School, Aliquippa, PA) dished out seven assists.
With the victories, the Beaver men's and women's teams received a bid to next week's United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USACC) National Tournament in Uniontown, PA. Seedings, game sites, times, and opponents will be announced later in the week.