(box score)
Widener struggled early, but never trailed over the final 26 minutes for a 79-73 Commonwealth Conference win over Elizabethtown at Schwartz Center.
Elizabethtown led for much of the first 13 minutes, taking its largest lead of five on two different occasions. Megan Strohman made her first five field goals for the Blue Jays. This included jumpers on four straight possessions, accounting for all of Elizabethtown's points in a 9-2 run, helping it open a 20-15 lead with 8:55 left in the first half.
Widener took over from there, however. The Pride reeled off the next seven points, and finished the half on a 16-6 run to hold a 31-26 lead at halftime. Widener capitalized on Elizabethtown's mistakes, earning a 17-4 edge in scoring off turnovers in the period.
Elizabethtown cut Widener's lead to 59-58 with just under six minutes left, but never managed to knot the score. The Pride went on a 12-2 spurt in just over the next two minutes, sparked by two 3-pointers in consecutive possessions from freshman Joanna Persiano (Ventnor, NJ). Widener led by as many as 11 on three different occasions, and never led by fewer than five over the final 4:24.
The Pride (14-4, 5-2 CC) shot 46 percent (6-of-13) from beyond the arc in the second half. That included 3-of-4 from Persiano, who finished with 12 points off the bench.
Widener finished with five in double figures. Sophomores Lil Carney (Narberth, PA) and Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA) each closed with a double-double. Carney led the team with 18 points and 10 assists, and Dellinger finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Vanessa Hejnas (Delran, NJ) closed with 11 points and seven boards, and junior Lindsay Pepino (Oceanside, NY) chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Strohman finished with a game-high 20 points for the Blue Jays (9-7, 2-5).
Widener next Saturday travels to Grantham, PA for a Commonwealth Conference game against Messiah, beginning at 5:00 pm.
