Freshman Joanna Persiano (Ventnor, NJ) scored a team-high 15 points, helping Widener overcome a 14-point first half deficit to earn an 81-69 Commonwealth Conference victory over Alvernia at Schwartz Center.
Widener managed just one point in the first four minutes, committing six turnovers and trailed 27-13 with 8:18 left in the first half.
The Pride staged a furious comeback from there, however. Eight different players scored for Widener in a 26-12 run, spanning just over the final eight minutes of the half to forge a 39-39 tie at the break.
The momentum carried over into the second half with Widener opening the period on a 13-0 spurt in just over the first four minutes. Alvernia followed with a 15-7 surge of its own, cutting its deficit to 59-54 with just under 11 minutes left but would never get any closer. The Pride countered with an 18-6 run to open its largest lead at 77-60, and never led by fewer than 12 over the final 7:13.
Widener, ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings, made 15-of-27 field goals in the second half and finished the contest with a 49-29 edge in rebounds.
Persiano finished 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for the Pride (16-6, 7-4 CC). Sophomores Lil Carney (Narberth, PA) and Francesca Lee (Hainesport, NJ) each went 5-for-5 from the floor, finishing with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Sophomore Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA) closed with 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals, and junior Lindsay Pepino (Oceanside, NY) dropped 11 points off the bench.
Angela Altemose and Allie Toczylowski each finished with a double-double for the Crusaders (12-10, 5-6). Altemose dropped a game-high 23 points and hauled in 10 rebounds with Toczylowski recording 12 and 10.
Widener on Saturday travels to Elizabethtown, PA for a Commonwealth Conference game, beginning at 2:00 pm.
