State College, Pa., Jan. 22, 2003 -- On a night when the temperature was the coldest of the month, the State College girls' basketball team turned up the heat and defeated the visiting Hollidaysburg Lady Tigers 54-40.

The victory keeps the Lady Little Lions (15-1, 6-0) in first place in the Mountain High League and completes their two-game regular season sweep of Hollidaysburg (9-5, 3-2).

Early foul trouble forced State College coach Bethany Irwin to pull starters Suzy Carlson and Katlyn Stupar but her team claimed its 15th victory with a little help from the bench.

After a high-speed opening half, the Lady Little Lions led 30-18.

Liz Miller and Jessie Serafin quickly replaced Carlson and Stupar, who both earned their fourth fouls within 13 seconds of each other during Hollidaysburg's third-period charge.

Allison Hall scored nine of her team-high 11 points for the Lady Tigers in less than four of the third period's eight minutes.

"Third quarter, they came out, and the momentum was going their way," Irwin said. "We needed to slow things down."

Liz Gabrielle's bucket ended the third period thanks to one of Miller's three assists, giving the Lady Little Lions a 42-34 lead.

State College opened the final period with a nearly 90-second possession during which Miller scored two of her three points.

Serafin added to her two second-period 3-pointers by driving the lane for a bucket and nailing two free throws, increasing the lead to 53-40.

Irwin was extremely pleased with her two J.V. players' performances in the game, pointing out that a game like this one builds the team's confidence in each other.

"Sometimes that happens when someone's not having their night and you need someone to pick up that slack," Irwin said. "I think Liz and Jessie certainly did that tonight."

Rachel DeGol and Kailee Smith were the only scoring Lady Tigers in the final quarter, each sinking a three-point basket.

Nicole Scipione contributed two of her team-leading 12 points in the last eight minutes. Scipione also led the team in rebounds with seven.

State College's J.V. team extended its winning streak to 73 straight games with a 47-25 victory over Hollidaysburg. Liz Miller led in scoring with 15 points, while Jessie Serafin finished the game with nine.