Women's Basketball Handed 80-71 loss at No. 20 Lebanon Valley in Commonwealth Conference Final

(box score)

Widener's run at another Commonwealth Conference title fell just short with an 80-71 loss at 20th-ranked Lebanon Valley in the final in Annville, PA.

Widener (18-9) looked in great shape as it opened a 43-35 lead with 16:35 remaining following the latter of back-to-back layups from junior Lil Carney (Narberth, PA). But LVC's Kiely Chaklos was just getting warmed up as she scored six points during an 8-0 run to bring her team to a 43-43 tie with 14:15 left.

Much like their 2009 clash in the final, a 75-72 double-overtime Widener victory, this game remained close most of the season half. The Pride overcame foul trouble in that contest and it came up again today when freshman Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, NJ) was whistled for her fourth foul with 9:33 remaining.

The teams traded shot for shot with very few empty possessions. Widener junior Francesca Lee (Hainesport, NJ) provided the game's 17th tie and the second half's 10th by hitting a jumper with 2:23 to play for a 68-68 draw.

Chaklos did her thing again by hitting a layup with 2:07 remaining. Carney missed a layup and Chaklos committed a turnover to give the Pride another shot at a tie. But junior Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA), the conference Player of the Year and second team Academic All-America, missed a layup and Renee Fritz hauled in a huge rebound for Dutchmen (24-3).

Fritz was fouled and canned both ends of a 1-and-1 with 90 seconds to go for a 72-68 LVC lead. Widener would not go away as sophomore Jennifer Egee (Ridley Park, PA), also having a career day, nailed a 3-pointer with 1:21 left for a 72-71 deficit.

The Dutchmen just would not let go of their conference title and continued to answer the bell. Caitlin Murphy provided a huge basket as her jumper with the shot clock running down gave the Dutchmen a 74-71 lead with 53 seconds to play.

LVC gave Widener an open look at a tying 3-pointer, but Dellinger could not hit from beyond the arc. Lee grabbed the offensive rebound, but missed in close and Caitlin Bach hauled in the rebound with 41 seconds to play.

Chaklos went 4-for-4 from the line the rest of the way, hitting twice with 27 seconds remaining for a 76-71 game and following suit with 15 seconds left for a seven-point contest. Murphy hit both of her attempts with one second to play for the final, handing Widener its first loss in three Commonwealth Conference championship games.

Egee was on her game by coming off the bench to score a career-best 22 points over 30 minutes for the Pride, who could not overcome shooting 35 percent (14-of-40) from the field in the second half. Carney had 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds and six steals with Lee getting 12 points and seven rebounds for the Pride.

Chaklos was the difference by scoring 20 of her game-high 27 points in the second half, shooting 8-of-15 overall from the floor and 11-for-12 from the line. Tierney Hiltz netted 15 points, Fritz posted 13, Murphy scored 10 and Bach contributed 11 and 11 rebounds in a game that featured 13 lead changes.

The Dutchmen canned all 19 of their free-throw attempts in the second half and the Pride were just 4-for-6. LVC overall was 26-for-30 from the charity stripe and Widener closed 9-for-13.

Widener entered having won four league titles, including two Middle Atlantic Conference crowns, and advancing to the NCAA Tournament three times.

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