Women's Basketball Begins 2014 With 67-63 Victory at Stevenson

(box score)

Senior Jen Egee (Ridley Park, PA) posted her second double-double of the season and sparked the decisive run for Widener, which held on for a 67-63 Commonwealth Conference triumph at Stevenson in Owings Mills, MD.

Things looked in the bag for Widener (7-4, 2-2 CC), which netted 14 straight points over four minutes to open a 45-35 lead with 12:11 remaining. Egee, who has been the catalyst all season for the Pride, netted 11 points in the spurt.

Stevenson hung around, scoring eight straight points later in the second half to close to 52-51 with 6:17 remaining. Kayla Kelly netted the last four points in that stretch for the Mustangs (5-5, 3-1), ending it with a layup.

The contest remained close the rest of the way and the Mustangs got within striking distance after Kayleigh Guzek's two free throws with 61 seconds left for a 65-63 deficit. Stevenson actually had a chance to tie following a Widener turnover, but Kelly missed two huge free throws with 51 seconds remaining.

Ty Bender stymied the Pride's next possession with a steal and the Mustangs again had a chance to tie the game. But Bender could not follow up her defensive effort, missing a layup with the ball going back to the visitors.

Senior Joanna Persiano (Ventnor, NJ), playing her first game after missing the last three due to injury, canned two free throws with six seconds left for the final and Widener's fourth victory in the last five outings.

Egee closed with 20 points and equaled her career best with 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She drilled two 3-pointers and now stands eighth in Middle Atlantic Conference history with 192.

Junior Courtney Colella (Cinnaminson, NJ) amassed career highs of 13 points and 13 rebounds for her first career double-double. Persiano had 15 points and seven assists, junior Kristina Reiter (Sewell, NJ) scored nine points and Brianna Wylie (Mount Laurel, NJ) hauled in nine rebounds for the Pride, who shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the field.

"It was a tough-fought game by both teams." Widener coach Alisa Kintner said. "We were a little frazzled on the offensive end of the floor, but our defense helped us win the game. The first game after break is usually one of the toughest games to play. I am just happy to get a conference win on the road."

Kelly scored 15 points, Bender had nine and eight rebounds with Stephanie Martinez getting nine points for the Mustangs, who shot 29 percent (22-of-76) from the field on their home court.

Widener plays four of its next five games at home, starting Wednesday against Arcadia at 6:00 pm.

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