HAZLETON, Pa. – The Cairn University women's basketball team lost, 50-45 on the road against non-conference opponent Penn State Hazleton on Friday evening.
 
Cairn (8-9, 6-5 CSAC) and Penn State Hazleton (11-5, 9-3 PSUAC) engaged in a defensive battle from the opening tip and were tied at 8-8 midway through the first. The Highlanders closed the period on a 5-2 run and led 13-10 after one. Both teams played lockdown defense in the second frame, with neither teams getting into double figures in scoring in the quarter. Cairn led 21-18 at intermission.
 
The third quarter was the biggest offensive output of any quarter and the Lions took their first lead since the first period at the 2:34 mark (32-31). However, Cairn closed the stanza on a 5-1 stretch to reclaim the lead at 36-32 entering the final period. In the fourth, Hazelton went on a quick 5-0 run to take the lead and both teams traded the lead throughout the quarter, leading to a 45-45 stalemate with 1:34 to play. Hazleton had the response in the form of a three to take the lead with 24 seconds left. The Lions then got a stop on the defensive end and made their free throws down the stretch to earn the victory.
 
Cairn shot 28.3% (17-60) compared to 33.3% (18-54) for the Lions. The Highlanders out rebounded Hazleton (42-36) and forced 17 Lion turnovers. Cairn was a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripl in the contest.
 
Cairn was led offensively by senior Dakota Hitchner (Ocean City, NJ / Atlantic Christian) who notched a game-high 20 points (six games in last seven with 20+ points) to go along with seven rebounds, a team-high four assists and a pair of steals. Hitchner was followed by freshman Tamia Warner (Ewing, NJ / Ewing) who deposited nine points and swatted away a career-high four blocked shots.
 
Cairn will be back in action on Wednesday, February 2 when it returns to Colonial States Athletic Conference play against the No. 1 team in the CSAC standings, Clarks Summit University, inside the Mason Activity Center at 6 p.m.