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Beth Dessart Mager (Newtown Square, PA) heroically played all 50 minutes in being named tournament MVP and fellow senior Barbara Fleming (Philadelphia, PA) poured in 24 points for Widener in a thrilling 75-72 double-overtime victory at Lebanon Valley for its second Commonwealth Conference title in six years.
Widener (18-9) captured its fourth Middle Atlantic/Commonwealth crown in school history and is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the third time (1982, 2004). The squad also was the fourth seed in 2004, also beating Messiah in the semifinals and winning at the No. 2 seed in the final.
If that was not ironic enough, the Pride's victory in 2004 also came on February 28 and moved their record to 18-9. For the record, the next Saturday, February 28 is in 2015.
The pairings will be announced Monday at 11:00 am via web cast on NCAA.com.
In a second half which neither team led by more than five points, Eryn Schultz hit a 3-pointer to give Lebanon Valley a 59-56 lead. Fleming on the next possession missed a 3-pointer and sophomore Alex Held (Westminster, MD) got the rebound. Following a timeout, Fleming banked in a triple with 16 seconds left and Widener had to survive Schultz missing a jumper in the closing seconds.
The Dutchmen (17-9) grabbed a 67-64 cushion in the first overtime on a 3-pointer from Megan Bish. But sophomore reserve Katie Gallagher (Defiance, OH) hit one of the biggest shots of her young career, draining a 3-pointer with 1:06 left for a 67-67 tie.
Lori Lidlow hit 1-of-2 free throws for Lebanon Valley with 48 seconds to play and Gallagher followed suit 15 seconds later for a 68-68 tie. Lidlow missed a layup with nine seconds to go and Dessart Mager could not convert a jumper at the buzzer.
Gallagher in the second overtime made a crucial layup with 3:43 left to bring Widener to a 70-70 tie. Fleming hit a jumper and Dessart Mager made one of two from the stripe with 1:52 remaining and a 73-70 Widener lead.
Lidlow made a layup with 1:37 to go for a 73-72 game, followed by Pride junior Lindsey Isler (New Hope, PA) drilling 1-of-2 from the foul line with 31 seconds left for a two-point contest.
After Isler missed two free throws, Dessart Mager stole the ball from Suzie Noyes with four seconds left. Dessart Mager hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 75-72 game and Widener survived Lidlow's missed runner from halfcourt at the buzzer.
Dessart Mager truly gave it all, finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. She competed at least 37 minutes for the 10th time this season and at least 40 minutes for the fourth time in six contests. Dessart Mager ended the tournament with 34 points and 15 rebounds, scoring in double figures for the sixth time in eight games.
Isler scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds over 45 minutes with Fleming totaling 40 minutes for Widener, which shot 39 percent (25-of-64) overall.
It was Widener's longest game since a 78-70 double-overtime loss to Muhlenberg on January 9, 1995.
Noyes had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Lidlow scored 17 and Schultz netted 10 for the Dutchmen, who shot 36 percent (21-of-59) overall.
With the men's team also winning the conference title, it marks the first time since 1982 that both squads captured a league title and are headed to the NCAA Tournament in the same year.
