State College, Pa., Jan. 4, 2001 -- Balanced scoring in the fourth quarter helped State College hold off Altoona 61-44 at State College in the Mountain League opener for both schools.

State College senior scoring leader Katie Glusko provided 23 of her game-high 27 points in the first three periods as the Lions built a 46-35 advantage heading into the final stanza.

That's when a pair of State College reserves stepped up to share scoring responsibilites.

Nicole Scipione opened the fourth quarter scoring by connecting on a trey then made a free throw in an 11-point effort off the bench for the Lady Little Lions.

Altoona answered with a pair from the charity stripe by Jess Adams. Suzy Carlson then netted a 3-pointer for State College which Adams answered with a deuce.

After Glusko's folo of a missed shot, Carlson fed State College reserve Kaitlyn Stupar for a layup underneath. Altoona's Amanda Pierce's trey preceded two free throws by Stupar giving the Lions a 59-42 lead with 59 seconds to go. Altoona's Tasha Stotler put in the last two of her team-high 11 points before Glusko made a pair from the charity stripe to end the game.

"I think our bench did an outstanding job. That really helped us." State College coach Bethany Irwin said. Irwin said a strong defense also was part of the victory. "We played incredible defense in the first half to hold them to 17 points. We know they're a second half team so we knew we had to get a good jump on them."

State College improved to 8-2, 1-0 in the league, and Altoona's overall record slipped to 4-5 and 0-1 in conference play.

State College hosts Indian Valley in its next game Wednesday night. Altoona is at Dallastown tomorrow night.