State College, Pa., Feb. 8, 2003 -- The State College Lady Little Lions began Senior Night by honoring Suzy Carlson, Liz Gabrielle, Katie Pierce and Nicole Scipione and ended the evening with a 64-39 win over the visiting Upper Merion Lady Vikings (19-4).

State College, now 20-2, held Upper Merion to just 11 points in the first half but fell into a third-quarter slump before outscoring the Lady Vikings 24-13 in the final period.

"I just can't say enough about my senior players," State College coach Bethany Irwin said.

The Lady Little Lions opened the game with a three-pointer from Gabrielle and a bucket by Scipione assisted by Carlson. The three seniors went in for a repeat, Gabrielle nailing another three and Scipione making the lay-up from the second of Carlson's 10 assists.

Leading 17-7 at the quarter break, the Lady Little Lions held Upper Merion to just four points from Rachel Joyce in the second period. Sarah O'Shea and Jessie Serafin pulled through from three-point range for State College as the Lions ended the half with a 29-11 lead.

Kelly Crowe announced a third-quarter run for Upper Merion, scoring eight of her team-high 13 points and leading the Lady Vikings through nearly five-and-a-half minutes of play during which State College did not score.

Upper Merion narrowed its deficit to just three points (29-26) before Lady Little Lion Katlyn Stupar took charge with a three-point play.

"They just came out really flat," Irwin said of her team's approach after halftime. "The defense wasn't there, and they weren't playing aggressively, but once Katlyn broke that seal, they were on."

Two more lay-ups by Stupar plus two buckets from Scipione ended the quarter with a 40-26 State College advantage.

Four points from Stupar in the last period rounded out her game-high 16 points, while O'Shea contributed a pair of free throws and nine points from threes to end the game with 14.

Scipione added a bucket to her three-point play, scoring five of her 13 points in the final eight minutes and sealing the 64-39 victory for the Lady Little Lions.

State College's JV team defeated Upper Merion 73-37, increasing its winning streak to 79 games. Serafin led in scoring with 25 points and Kelly Ashcraft finished the game with 13.

The victory moved State College to a 20-win mark for the fourth straight year and the seventh time in school history.

The Little Lady Lions will conclude their regular season by hosting Bishop Guilfoyle Tuesday night.