(box score)
Widener's women's basketball team trailed at halftime, but surged ahead early in the second stanza and never looked back in a 57-48 season-opening win over Cabrini in Radnor, PA.
Freshman Jennifer Egee (Ridley Park, PA) hit a 3-pointer for her first career points and a 3-0 Widener lead 40 seconds into the game. The Pride held the lead for nearly the next 17 minutes, highlighted by a 12-5 run in which five different players scored.
Despite leading by as many as nine and shooting 39 percent (11-of-28) from the field and 4-10 from 3-point range in the first half, Widener found itself trailing 29-27 at the break.
After four lead changes in the first four minutes of the second half, Widener took the lead for good when reigning Commonwealth Conference and D3Hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year Lil Carney (Narberth, PA) hit a jumper to make it 35-33 with just under 15 minutes left.
Widener's defense held Cabrini to 23 percent (15-of-65) shooting for the game, including just 17 (5-of-30) in the second half.
Carney led the Pride (1-0) with 16 points, three assists and three blocks. Sophomore Mary Lorenz (Mays Landing, NJ) finished with seven points, shooting 3-for-3 from the field. Vanessa Hejnas (Delran, NJ) totaled eight points and 11 rebounds, and fellow sophomore Francesca Lee (Hainesport, NJ) hauled in nine boards. Egee closed with nine points and five rebounds.
Brittany Sandone totaled 13 points for the Cavaliers (0-1) and Laura Caron chipped in 12 and six rebounds.
Widener on Wednesday visits Swarthmore for a 6:00 pm start as part of the “320 Challenge.”
