DuBOIS, Pa. — Having a short week before the Thanksgiving holiday, the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Penn State DuBois faced tough, higher classification opponents to help them prepare for an upcoming run in conference play in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC).

The week began with the Lady Lions traveling to face the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, an NCAA Division III team. Despite a strong offensive effort led by dominant performances in the paint, Penn State DuBois fell to Pitt-Bradford 83-76 in a spirited contest at the McDowell Sport & Fitness Center.

The Lady Lions excelled in the paint, outscoring Pitt-Bradford 52-32 and securing 23 second-chance points. They were led by the stellar performances of Elizabeth Hungiville and Natalie Bowser, who both recorded double-doubles in a combined effort that kept DuBois competitive until the final whistle. Hungiville was the team’s top scorer with 34 points on an efficient 13-of-20 shooting and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. She also pulled down 14 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end, and contributed five assists. Bowser added 26 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 11-of-18 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line. DuBois was active defensively, forcing 10 turnovers and grabbing five steals. Frances Milliron made a notable contribution with 12 points, six assists, and one steal while playing 27 minutes.

The Lady Lions started strong, holding a 16-10 lead after the first quarter. However, Pitt-Bradford responded with a 25-point second quarter, capitalizing on 3-point shooting and transition opportunities to take a 35-32 lead into halftime. The third quarter saw both teams trade blows in a high-scoring frame, with DuBois scoring 25 points to Bradford’s 27. The Lady Lions continued to rely on their interior scoring, but Pitt-Bradford’s sharpshooting, including 13 made 3-pointers, gave the home team an edge. In the final minutes, Pitt-Bradford capitalized on fast-break opportunities and turnovers to seal the game. The Lady Lions showed resilience, cutting the deficit to single digits multiple times but were unable to close the gap.

Penn State DuBois shot 40.5% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-15. Pitt-Bradford hit 33.3% of its 3-point attempts, making the long ball a decisive factor. DuBois dominated the glass, outrebounding Bradford 53-43, including 20 offensive boards.

On the men’s side, the Nittany Lions also traveled to face a tough opponent in Clarion University, an NCAA Division II opponent. Penn State DuBois dropped a hard-fought contest against Clarion, 96-77, at W.S. Tippin Gymnasium. Despite the loss, DuBois showcased strong individual performances and moments of resilience, keeping the game competitive through much of the first half.

The game began with an intense back-and-forth pace, featuring five ties and 13 lead changes in the opening 20 minutes. The Nittany Lions trailed by just two points at halftime, 39-37, capitalizing on efficient ball movement and 3-point shooting. The team shot 40.5% from the field in the first half, including 7-of-19 from beyond the arc.

In the second half, Clarion's offense surged, scoring 57 points on 61.1% shooting. Penn State DuBois struggled to keep pace, particularly from 3-point range, hitting just 2-of-11 attempts after the break. Clarion's ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities (16 points) and fast-break transitions (19 points) widened the gap.

Penn State DuBois finished the game shooting 42.9% from the field and 30.0% from beyond the arc, with nine 3-pointers made. The team excelled at the free-throw line, converting 8-of-9 attempts (88.9%). The bench also made a notable contribution with 26 points. Defensively, DuBois was active with 12 steals, taking advantage of 19 turnovers by Clarion. However, Clarion’s superior shooting efficiency, including 56.9% from the field and 35.0% from 3-point range, proved to be the difference.

James Pearson led DuBois in scoring off the bench, pouring in 12 points on 3-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Ashton Fortson contributed 11 points and grabbed five rebounds, with three coming on the offensive glass. Niare Poplar was effective from deep, hitting 3-of-7 3-pointers to tally 11 points and pull down seven rebounds. Kaleb Pryor showcased his versatility with 10 points, eight assists, and two steals while committing only one turnover in 28 minutes. Beau Verdill matched Pryor with 10 points and added five rebounds, showing his presence on both ends of the court.

This week will see both the Lady Lions and Nittany Lions play several key games within their PSUAC schedules. For the women’s team, that will begin on Friday, Dec. 6, when they travel to face Penn State Mont Alto. The Lady Lions will continue their road trip on Saturday, Dec. 7, when they face Penn State York, also away from home.

The Nittany Lions will host one nonconference game before jumping into their PSUAC games this weekend. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Brant & Stratton (Ohio) will visit the PAW Center for a 6 p.m. game. Penn State DuBois will then travel for a PSUAC weekend doubleheader, first traveling to face Penn State Mont Alto on Friday, Dec. 6, and then playing Penn State York on Saturday, Dec. 7.

For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.