LA PLUME, PA- Jayda Price (York, PA/William Penn) scored 17 points and knocked down four three-pointers as the Keystone College women's basketball team opened its season with a 71–46 victory over Penn State Hazleton on Saturday afternoon at Ace Spalding Arena.
The Giants placed five players in double figures and connected on 13 three-pointers, using a 25-point second quarter to build a 43–21 halftime advantage. Keystone led throughout the contest and extended its cushion to as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Price finished an efficient 6-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc while collecting a team-high seven rebounds and a steal. Desiree Stamps (Alpharetta, GA/Centennial) followed with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including two three-pointers.
Tayana Bibbins (Lincoln, DE/Sussex Technical) and Jasmyn Miller (Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes) contributed 11 points apiece, with Miller providing three three-pointers off the bench. Za'Kiyah Hixson (Morven, NC/Anson Count Early College) added 10 points and an assist, giving the Giants four starters in double figures.
Phaneirra Barnett (Baltimore, MD/Edgewood) supplied seven points and a steal, while Leah Gaddist (Freeport, NY/Freeport) finished with three points, four rebounds and a blocked shot.
Keystone established an early advantage behind contributions from across its starting lineup. Barnett opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and Stamps followed with consecutive baskets. A Barnett free throw and a Hixson jumper pushed the Giants ahead, 10–2.
Hixson added another jumper before Price scored her first basket and converted a free throw to extend the lead to 15–4. Penn State Hazleton answered with six consecutive points, but Miller connected from three-point range with 28 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. A late Hazleton three-pointer brought the score to 18–13 after one period.
The Giants created separation in the second quarter, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc while holding Hazleton to eight points.
Price opened Keystone's second-quarter scoring with a three-pointer, and Bibbins added a fastbreak layup. After Hazleton pulled within 23–18 with 4:57 remaining, the Giants responded with a 17–0 run that took control of the game.
Bibbins started the stretch with a three-pointer, followed by triples from Miller and Stamps on successive Keystone scoring possessions. Hixson added a free throw and a layup, Bibbins scored inside, and Stamps finished on the fastbreak. Barnett capped the run with a free throw, giving Keystone a 40–18 advantage.
Following a Hazleton three-pointer, Miller answered with her third triple of the half with 28 seconds remaining to send the Giants into the break ahead, 43–21.
Keystone shot 64 percent from the field over the opening two quarters, making 16 of its 25 attempts, and connected on seven of its 12 three-point tries. Stamps scored nine first-half points, while Miller supplied nine points on her three triples.
The Giants continued to receive balanced production in the third quarter. Price knocked down another three-pointer before Barnett and Bibbins added baskets to extend the lead to 50–22. Gaddist joined the scoring with a three-pointer of her own, pushing the advantage to 53–26.
Keystone limited Hazleton to nine points in the period and closed the quarter with five consecutive points. Hixson connected from beyond the arc with 36 seconds remaining, and Price followed with a layup to give the Giants a 58–30 lead entering the fourth.
Price continued her strong shooting in the final period, hitting her third three-pointer of the afternoon to make it 61–32. Bibbins later converted both of her free throws before assisting on Price's fourth triple, extending the lead to 66–38 with 5:01 remaining.
Miller added a jumper to give Keystone its largest advantage at 68–38. Stamps capped the Giants' scoring with her second three-pointer, again off a Bibbins assist, as Keystone finished off the season-opening victory.
The Giants shot 42.6 percent overall and 36.1 percent from three-point range. Seven Keystone players made at least one three-pointer, and the team committed just five turnovers over 40 minutes. Miller and Gaddist combined for 14 points off the bench.
Bibbins finished with a team-high two assists, while Price collected four offensive rebounds among her seven total boards. Gaddist added three defensive rebounds and recorded Keystone's lone blocked shot.
