PREVIEW: Women’s Basketball DII Quarter-Final Game

UNIONTOWN, Pa. – The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) women's basketball team returns to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II National Tournament for the third consecutive year. The SeaWolves carved out the fourth seed as an at-large bid to match-up against #5 Penn State University Hazleton on Thursday, Mar. 2 in the quarter-final round inside the Maine Arena on the campus of Penn State University Fayette. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

All-Time Series vs. Hazleton

The SMCC women will face Hazleton for only the second time in program history—the first being in a consolation game at last year's national tournament. The SeaWolves will look to avenge their 14-point loss to the Lions on Thursday.

Results

3/4/16              Neutral                        L, 85-71

Scouting the Opposition

Hazleton finished as the runner-up of the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) falling to Penn State University Brandywine 71-53 in the conference championship game. Receiving an at-large bid to Uniontown, the Lady Lions played to an 11-3 conference record and stand 19-6 overall this 2016-17 season. Hazleton is 1-1 at neutral sites and average 72.4 points per game, near seven points better than SMCC—four of the five Lady Lion starters average in double-digit scoring.

Hazleton landed three players on PSUAC All-Conference teams in 2017. Sophomore McKenzie Prutsman was selected First Team for leading her squad in scoring netting 16.3 points per game from the point guard position. Senior Stephanie Guevara, who was selected Second Team, puts in a complete performance averaging a double-double for the Lady Lions in 12 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Guevara also leads her squad in assists (3.8) and steals (4.1) per game.

Leading the Way

Senior Jennifer Conrad (Monmouth, Maine) leads the SeaWolves in scoring and rebounding averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. First-year Alicia Ruth (Plaistow, N.H.) follows suit with 11 points per game and ranks second among USCAA Division II women in three-point percentage, making the 21-footer 40.7 percent of the time. First-year Kaylah Abdul (South Berwick, Maine) lends a hand in the SeaWolves transition play averaging 3.2 steals per game.

The winner of this game will advance to the semi-final round and take on the winner of #8 Penn State University Fayette vs. #1 Central Maine Community College on Friday, Mar. 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Arena.

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