(live stats) / (internet broadcast) / (media notes)
Widener's is the third seed for the Commonwealth Conference Tournament and on Wednesday visits No. 16 Messiah in the semifinals.
Tip-off in Grantham, PA is 7:00 pm. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and free for those under age six.
The women (15-10, 11-3 CC) are in the conference tournament for the seventh time in eight years and out to defend their league championship. The Pride also won the Commonwealth Conference in 2004 and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (1982, 2004, 2009).
This marks the fifth time in the eight-year span Widener and Messiah have locked horns in the semifinals, with each winning twice, and third straight year.
Sophomore center Casey Pritz (Abington, PA), last season's conference Rookie of the Year, again has played solidly and made teams shift their defense around her. She is 17th in the conference with 9.8 points per game, fifth with 7.5 rebounds per contest, third with a .549 shooting percentage and first with 1.80 blocks per game.
Freshman Lil Carney (Narbeth, PA) has exploded onto the scene at guard with her aggressive style and dynamic play. She is one of two on the squad to start all 25 games this season. A leading candidate for conference Rookie of the Year, Carney is 12th in the league with 11.3 points per game, 20th with 4.8 rebounds per contest, sixth with 3.28 assists per game, sixth with a .770 free throw percentage, 10th with 1.88 steals per contest and 10th with 1.40 three-pointers per game.
Senior Becky Tyler (Wynnewood, PA) has stepped up in a big way at forward, giving Widener rebounding, hustle and determination. She also is one of two on the squad to start all 25 games this season. The second team all-conference pick from 2008 is 22nd in the conference with 7.9 points per game, 11th with 6.2 rebounds per contest and seventh with a .769 free throw percentage.
Senior Lindsey Isler (New Hope, PA) has given Widener consistently solid play since taking over the point guard role early last season. She has done it all with her phenomenal defense and great leadership in helping the Pride get to this point. Isler is seventh in the league with 3.24 assists per game and third with a 1.31 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Freshman guard Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA) has been an integral part of Widener's starting lineup. The squad is 7-1 when she starts and 7-0 as part of a lineup with Tyler, Isler, Pritz and Carney. Dellinger is 28th in the conference with 7.4 points per game and 19th with 4.79 rebounds per game.
The other semifinal pits 18th-ranked Lebanon Valley against fourth-seeded Alvernia. The winners play Saturday in the final for a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
