Indiana, Pa., March 15, 2002 -- State College survived its strongest challenge of the postseason hanging on for a 40-38 victory over Mt. Lebanon in a PIAA quarterfinal game played at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

A missed shot at the buzzer by Mt. Lebanon's Katie Kestler ended the Blue Devils' year after they had climbed back into a game that seemed out of reach in the first two quarters.

The Lions coasted to a 13-2 lead in the first quarter and had a 21-10 advantage at the half.

Fourteen missed free throws including five in the game's last 2:23 set up a hectic finish for the two teams.

"I think we dug our hole because we didn't put our free throws in," coach Bethany Irwin said. "When you're used to getting 20 points off the foul line that really hurts."

State College senior Katie Glusko, held to four points in the first half, kept finding a way to score in the final quarter.

Glusko scored State College's first eight points in the deciding quarter's first five minutes staking her team to a 37-32 advantage with 3:10 left.

"She responded," Irwin said of Glusko. "I said to her we're going to you. She had a great fourth quarter and that's when it counts."

After Lisa Younkin made one of two free throws, Mt. Lebanon's Shannon Bodamer scored on a drive. That's when Glusko hit a baseline jumper at 1:22 that would prove to be the winning basket.

Michelle Hall sank two free throws after Glusko's bucket to make it 40-36 with 1:13 remaining.

State College could have avoided some of its game-ending problems by making its free throws but the Lions were clearly in trouble at the charity stripe. Suzy Carlson and Younkin missed free throws in the last 55 seconds. Then Kestler swished a pair from the charity stripe at the 27-second mark that brought Mt. Lebanon to within two (40-38).

State College senior Susie Sieminski missed two more free throws with 18 seconds left to set up the dramatic finish.

"They did what they were supposed to do," Irwin said of her team's play in the game's deciding final seconds. "We knew that the out of bounds kid (Kestler) was going to shoot it. We played tough defense and thank God we didn't foul to let them shoot a 3-pointer."

Every step State College takes at this point is carrying the Lions into new territory. A year ago State College, now 26-3, also had 26 wins but lost to Ambridge in the PIAA's second round.

Now the Lions are one victory away from the championship game. Oakland Catholic, a 56-42 winner over Schenley, will be the opponent in the semifinals next Tuesday at a time and place to be decided.

Oakland Catholic is the defending state champion and is coached by Suzie McConnell Serio, the wife of Mt. Lebanon coach Pete Serio. "Two Serios in a row," Irwin said. "It's going to be kind of tough."