Hollidaysburg, Pa., Dec. 16, 2002 --
State College won its first road game of the season and improved to 3-0 overall with a 70-46 victory at Hollidaysburg tonight.
Senior Nicole Scipione led all scorers with 24 points and junior Sarah O'Shea contributed 18 points.
Senior Liz Gabrielle drew raves from coach Bethany Irwin as she combined nine points on offense with five steals on defense.
"Liz really held DeGol and did an unbelievable job," coach Bethany Irwin said. Hollidaysburg senior Rachael DeGol was the second best 3-point shooter in the Mountain High League a year ago but finished with just three points tonight.
State College led 15-9 after the first quarter with Scipione providing seven straight points in 60 seconds to pull the Lions from a 4-7 deficit to an 11-9 advantage. Gabrielle scored off a steal and Suzy Carlson banked in an underhand layup to pad State's lead at the end of the period.
The second quarter belonged to O'Shea who scored 11 points on back-to-back threes, a deuce and another trey. She was a big part of the lions' 33-20 lead at halftime.
State's offensive output escalated in the third period when the Lions outscored the Tigers 21 to nine. "The third quarter is their best quarter," Irwin said of Hollidaysburg's scoring potential. "They average 16 points, according to Rob's stats." Assistant coach Rob Irwin's accurate scouting report and State College's adjustments at intermission resulted in the Lions holding a 54-29 advantage at the end of the third stanza.
State College remained on cruise control in the last quarter including Scipione who scored seven straight points before reserve Jessie Serafin put in the last two to end the Lions' scoring for the night.
Hollidaysburg senior Lauren Lingenfelter had 16 points and Allison Hall scored 10 points to lead the Tigers.
State College is back home Wednesday night hosting North Schuylkill.
The State College junior varsity won a low-scoring contest 46-33 with the Hollidaysburg JV. Serafin led the Lions with 12 points with help from Kelly Ashcraft (11 points) and Carly Onkotz (nine points). The junior varsity team owns a three-year win streak that is now at 62 games.