(box score)
Sophomore Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA) scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures for Widener, which clinched its fourth straight trip to the Commonwealth Conference Tournament with an 89-67 win at Elizabethtown.
Widener settled matters with a 14-0 run over the first 4:09 of the second half, turning a 32-31 halftime deficit into a 45-32 lead. Dellinger scored four points that included a 3-pointer with sophomore Lil Carney (Narberth, PA) and freshman Joanna Persiano (Ventnor, NJ) also connecting from beyond the arc.
Dellinger shot 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for the Pride, who canned a season high 12 three-pointers by hitting 43 percent (12-of-28). Carney had 13 points and eight assists, Jennifer Egee (Ridley Park, PA) scored 12 points, fellow freshman Alyssa Wiggins (Swedesboro, NJ) netted 11 and sophomore Vanessa Hejnas (Delran, NJ) grabbed seven rebounds.
Widener, which led by as many as 25, shot 58 percent (19-of-33) from the field in the second half, 44 percent (28-of-64) for the game and 7-of-12 from 3-point range in the second half.
Kendra Beittel poured in 12 points to go with six rebounds and Megan Strohman netted 11 for the Blue Jays (13-9, 5-7 CC), who shot an impressive 49 percent (24-of-49) from the field but were only 14-for-23 from the line and committed 20 turnovers.
Widener (17-6, 8-4) is locked into the number three seed for the four-team tournament, which begins February 23. It will face either Messiah or nationally ranked Lebanon Valley in the semifinals.
The Pride on Tuesday host Arcadia, beginning at 6:00 pm as part of the WBCA “Pink Zone” to raise breast cancer awareness. Donations will be accepted with all proceeds benefiting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Widener is taking part in the initiative a fourth straight year and will wear pink uniforms a second consecutive season.
