(box score)
Senior Becky Tyler (Wynnewood, PA) matched her career high with 20 points, but Widener's season came to an end with an 80-74 loss to Juniata in the ECAC South Tournament semifinals in Latrobe, PA.
No. 8 Juniata, the defending tournament champion, looked in control with a 13-2 run that gave it a 53-40 lead with 13:11 remaining. Jen Hnatuck and Erin McGinley netted four points apiece in the spurt.
Fourth-seeded Widener (16-12) came back later in the half, scoring seven straight points as it closed to 57-52 with 10:33 to play. Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year Lil Carney (Narbeth, PA) tossed in a 3-pointer to open the run.
The game remained a tussle and got even more interesting when second team all-league pick Casey Pritz (Abington, PA) made a layup with 3:39 remaining for a 69-67 deficit. Juniata responded with six straight points, the last coming on two free throws from Ashton Bankos for a 75-67 game with 1:41 left.
Tyler hit a layup with 1:28 to go and Pritz followed suit 30 seconds later for a 75-71 contest. Widener on its next possession looked to do more damage after Paige Robertson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 for Juniata.
But that was when the Pride's hopes were dashed as a driving layup was nullified by an offensive foul. Two ensuing technical foul free throws by Hnatuck with 44 seconds remaining made it a 77-71 contest.
Tyler shot 9-of-15 from the floor over 27 minutes in her final game and equaled her scoring total from January 3, 2009 against McDaniel. Freshman Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA) poured in 14 points, junior Alex Held (Westminster, MD) netted 11 and Pritz hauled in 12 rebounds.
Hnatuck scored 19 points, Bankos netted 16, Kelly Rotan contributed 14 and 13 rebounds, McGinley scored 12 points and Meagan Raville added 10 for the Eagles (17-11), who shot 50 percent (14-of-28) from the field in the second half.
The Pride were making their fifth postseason appearance in school history and second in the ECAC South Tournament. They also competed in 2005 as well as playing in the NCAA Tournament in 1982, 2004 and 2009.
