State College, Pa., Dec. 29, 2001 -- Suzy Carlson scored seven of her game-high 23 points at the end of the third quarter to lead State College to a second-half comeback in a 61-47 victory over Bishop Carroll in the championship game of the Kiwanis Holiday Girls' Basketball Tournament at State College.

Carlson converted a layup after a steal then made the free throw to bring State College back from a 27-22 halftime deficit to a 37-37 tie with Bishop Carroll in the last two minutes of the third quarter. Another steal by Liz Gabrielle led to Katie Glusko's layup giving the Lady Little Lions a lead they would never relinquish. Carlson was fouled on another drive and swished both free throws to give the Lions a 41-37 advantage at the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter began with a Carlson trey followed by a Gabrielle layup and the Lions were off to the races, outscoring the Huskies 19-10 in the final stanza.

"This was a really big win," State College coach Bethany Irwin said. "I think we were down by seven at one point. We had new kids step up. Suzy Carlson played an unbelievable game."

Irwin, who won her 145th career game with the Lions, also singled out Liz Gabrielle. "Liz coming off the bench did a really nice job for us."

But it was Carlson who quarterbacked the State College offense after Irwin's halftime adjustments. "She penetrated when she needed to and she took the outside shots and dished them off. I think she did a great job," Irwin said.

Irwin knew her team needed some new directions at halftime. "You have to make adjustments at halftime. We really needed to box out and the kids just didn't quit."

The Lady Huskies were led by senior Jaclyn Schirf's 16 points. Sarah Bradley, a 6-1 junior, added 11 points.

State College won its second straight Kiwanis Holiday Tournament title and raised its record to 7-2. The Lions begin Mountain League play next Friday by hosting Altoona at 7:30 p.m.

Bishop Carroll falls to 7-2.

The all-tournament team included Alexis Sellers of William Tennent, Mandy Clevenger of Greater Latrobe, Jaclyn Schirf and Ali Meckey from Bishop Carroll, and Carlson and Glusko from State College.