Women's Basketball Defeats No. 15 Lebanon Valley, 69-59

(box score)

Widener fell behind early, but regained the lead soon after and held it for the remainder of the game in tonight's 69-59 Commonwealth Conference victory over 15th-ranked Lebanon Valley at Schwartz Center.

Widener fell to a 3-0 deficit early in the game, but a layup from junior Jennifer Egee (Ridley Park, PA) followed by a 3-pointer from senior Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, PA) gave the Pride their first lead of the game. Less than a minute later, sophomore Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, NJ) turned a steal into a layup in the paint to force Lebanon Valley into its first time out. Widener (14-4, 9-2 CC) held tight to the lead for the remainder of the first half, sending the game into the halftime break with a 38-30 lead.

Coming back into the second half, Lebanon Valley's Renee Fritz and Kiely Chaklos teamed up to close the score gap with Fritz hitting two shots in the paint about a minute apart. Ferrucci hit a layup and Courtney Colella (Cinnaminson, NJ) sank both free throws to ignite the scoring for the Pride in the second half. With seven minutes remaining, Widener held its biggest lead at 61-44.

Egee sank a layup with 26 seconds remaining, which was followed by a Lebanon Valley layup by Tierny Hiltz and a time out with 14 seconds left. Trying to close the score margin, Chaklos made one of two free throws and Hiltz missed a 3-pointer to leave the score at 69-59.

Dellinger led the team with 13 points and 13 rebounds to go with three steals. Colella and Ferrucci had 10 points apiece, with Ferrucci adding two steals and two assists. Senior Lil Carney (Narberth, PA) served up five assists and had four of the team's 11 steals. As a team, Widener shot with a 44 percent (29-of-66) from the floor.

Fritz scored 19 points, Hiltz netted 14, Chaklos had 11 and Caitlin Bach grabbed 10 rebounds for the Dutchmen (15-3, 9-2).

Widener moves into a second-place tie with LVC, but holds the tie-breaker by virtue of point differential in head-to-head meetings. The Dutchmen posted a 69-62 win December 1 in Annville.

On Saturday, Widener travels to Williamsport, PA to take on Lycoming in another men's and women's Commonwealth Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm, with the men playing at approximately 3:00 pm.

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