(boxscore) / (WBCA Pink Zone)
Widener got a great defensive effort and pulled away early in the second half, clinching a spot in the Commonwealth Conference Tournament with a 62-50 victory over Lycoming at Schwartz Center.
Widener (15-8, 6-4 CC) received one of its best defensive outings of the season, holding Lycoming (15-7, 4-6) to a mere 23 percent (6-of-26) shooting in the second half and 32 percent (16-of-50) overall. The Warriors also were 2-of-11 from 3-point range.
The Pride pulled away with a 15-2 run for their biggest lead, 48-29 with 12:20 remaining. Freshman Casey Pritz (Abington, PA) scored four points in that span and senior Beth Dessart Mager (Newtown Square, PA) added three.
Pritz, plagued by foul trouble most of the way, ended with 12 points and six rebounds over 14 minutes. Junior Rayne Reber (Pottstown, PA), who played solidly on defense, also had 12 and six as she went 10-of-12 from the line.
Dessart Mager closed with nine points and 10 rebounds for the Pride, who owned a 48-34 rebounding edge to mark the 10th time this season they have led by double figures.
Rebecca Leid poured in 19 points and Andrea Cooper netted 11 for Lycoming.
This marks the sixth time in seven seasons Widener is headed to the conference tournament. It is tied with Albright for third place and both are 1 1/2 games behind Lebanon Valley for second.
Widener today took part in the WBCA Pink Zone, the women's basketball initiative to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The team wore pink shooting shirts and raised hundreds of dollars, which will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. The Pride were one of over 1,200 teams to partake this season.
Widener is home Tuesday on Senior Night against Lebanon Valley as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. The women's game starts at 6:00 pm, followed by the men's contest at 8:00 pm.
