Bobcat Weekly
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Bobcat Weekly
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The Bobcats continued their strong season under UPG Women’s Basketball Coach Carol Gelet by going 2-0 last week with wins over Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference foes Lake Erie (Painesville, Ohio) and La Roche (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
The Bobcats opened their week at home against the Lake Erie Storm on Wednesday, Jan.31. After shooting just 21-percent from the floor in the first half, the Bobcats went into the locker room trailing 43-26 at intermission.
The Bobcats fought back in the second half and finally cut the margin to one-point with 8:41 remaining in the game. Then sophomore guard Jordan Fox (Hempfield Area H.S.) hit a layup to give the Bobcats a 54-53 lead with 7:45 to play. The Bobcats would lead by as many as 11 points before holding on for a 74-66 victory.
Sophomore forward Erin Arnold (Kiski Area H.S.) led the Bobcats with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals. Freshman forward Nicole Kushner (Canon McMillan H.S.) scored 13 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists, four steals and one blocked shot. Fox and freshman guard Torey Auld also scored in double figures, each recording 10 points in the victory. Auld led all players with five assists. For the contest the Bobcats shot just 35-percent from the field but connected on a solid 41-percent from three-point range.
Following the victory over Lake Erie, the Bobcats were at home again on Saturday, Feb. 3 to play La Roche. The Bobcats overcame La Roche’s huge size advantage (the Redhawks suited six players that were 5’10” or taller) to take a 43-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Bobcats shot 46-percent from the floor in the first half, led by senior guard Briane Krebs’ (Conemaugh Township H.S.) 16 points on 5-7 shooting, including 4-6 shooting from three-point range. Arnold grabbed 10 first-half rebounds for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats shooting improved to 58-percent in the second half as the team cruised to a 76-61 victory. For the game, the Bobcats shot 51-percent from the floor; including a remarkable 62-percent from three-point range. Krebs led the Bobcats with 20 points while Kushner and freshman forward Patti Matovich (East Allegheny H.S.) also scored in double figures for UPG. Arnold pulled down 11 rebounds and recorded five steals to lead the Bobcats in those categories.
In two games, Kushner scored 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out four assists, and recorded seven steals. Kushner’s efforts earned her Honorable Mention for AMCC Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week.
The Bobcats are 12-8 overall with a 7-2 record in AMCC play. The team will travel to Westminster (New Wilmington, Pa.) on Monday, Feb. 5 and to AMCC foe Frostburg State (Frostburg, Md.) on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
The Bobcats picked up their second victory of the season last week as they defeated Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference foe Lake Erie (Painesville, Ohio) at the buzzer in front of the home fans at UPG’s Chambers Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Led by freshman guard Scott Winfrey’s (Uniontown H.S.) 13 first-half points, the Bobcats led the Lake Erie Storm 39-31 at halftime. As a team, the Bobcats shot a solid 47-percent from the floor and 46-percent from behind the three-point arc.
In the second half, the Bobcats were outscored 40-34 and trailed the Storm 71-70 with 29 seconds to play. The Bobcats looked to set up a final shot as senior guard Josh Sapotichne (Greensburg Salem H.S.) found Winfrey all alone in the corner. Winfrey’s shot nestled through the net as time expired to give the Bobcats an exciting 73-71 victory. Winfrey scored 18 points, including the game-winning three-pointer for the Bobcats.
Sapotichne led the Bobcats with 19 points on 8-20 shooting. Sapotichne also handed out a game-high four assists in the win, including the assist that set up Winfrey’s last second heroics. Sophomore forward Mike Dudek (Woodland Hills H.S.) scored 12 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for UPG.
Still riding the emotions of their victory, the Bobcats looked to make it two in a row as they hosted AMCC foe La Roche on Saturday, Feb. 3. But unfortunately for the Bobcats, their strong effort wasn’t enough as they came out on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
The Bobcats trailed the Redhawks 33-27 at halftime, despite Winfrey’s 10 points. In the first half, the Bobcats shot 46-percent from the field and converted on 3-8 three-point field goals, good for 38-percent.
The Bobcats persevered in the second half and came back from a 17-point deficit at the 9:21 mark to pull within one point, 68-67, with just 34 seconds remaining. But the Bobcats could not get another basket and fell to the Redhawks, 71-67.
Sapotichne led all scorers with 18 points. Sapotichne also grabbed a team-high six rebounds and dished out six assists for the Bobcats. Winfrey scored 15 points and pulled down four rebounds to go along with two assists.
For his late-game heroics against Lake Erie and his solid all-around play, Winfrey was honorable mention for AMCC Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week. In the Bobcats’ two games, Winfrey scored 33 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists.
The Bobcats are 2-18 overall with a 2-7 record in AMCC play. The Bobcats travel to AMCC foe Frostburg State (Frostburg, Md.) on Wednesday, Feb. 7.