RADNOR, Pa. (Dec. 30, 2015) – Sophomore Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) scored 14 points, including 12 in the final quarter, and senior Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, N.J.) netted 19 to propel the Widener University women's basketball team to a 71-60 victory over Cabrini in the opening round of the Cabrini Holiday Classic at the Nerney Field House on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Leading 46-40 through three quarters, Widener held off multiple runs by a resilient Cabrini squad in the final frame to register its eighth win over its last nine contests. Shortly after the Cavaliers made it a one-possession game, Gallagher came alive by sinking two free throws and finishing a 3-point play the old-fashioned way at the charity stripe to give the Pride a 53-46 cushion with 7:37 remaining. The visitors then extended their lead to twin figures courtesy of another layup followed by a free throw from Gallagher at 2:39 before Ferrucci made charity shots down the stretch to produce the final outcome.
 
Both teams were ice cold from the floor in a back-and-forth first quarter that featured one tie and three lead changes, but the Widener defense limited the Cavaliers to just 23.8 percent shooting over the first 10 minutes to end the frame with a two-point advantage. Trailing 8-4 with under four minutes left, the Pride rattled off seven unanswered to pull ahead. Ferrucci drew attention by driving inside and found a wide open Julia Venturelli (Bridgewater, N.J.), who sank a shot from beyond the arc to give the visitors a 9-8 advantage before freshman Emily Hardy (Lewisberry, Pa.) drove in for a layup on the team's next possession to put the Pride up by three. Senior Brianna Wylie (Mount Laurel, N.J.) then converted a bucket with seven seconds on the clock to break a tie and give the visitors a 14-12 lead at the end of the quarter.
 
Cabrini (4-6), however, rode the hot hand of Meghan Martin to rally from behind in the second. The senior hit a jumper to tie the game at 16s, converted two free throws and then made a layup to give the hosts a 24-22 advantage at the 3:56 mark and their first lead since the closing minutes of the first quarter. But the Pride shook off the rally and responded with 10 straight, which was capped by a Venturelli trey that was set up once again by Ferrucci. The run gave Widener a boost and a 34-25 lead at recess.
 
In the third quarter, Renee Oliver helped the Cavaliers storm back and go on a 9-2 run out of the locker room to pull within two. The junior converted two field goals and found Kristina Startare for a trifecta to close the gap to 36-34 with 7:14 on the clock. After senior Nikki Sutliff (Sweet Valley, Pa.) sank two of her five free throws at the other end to keep the Pride ahead, Cabrini did not go away and got two charity stripe baskets and a jumper from Martin to move ahead by a 40-38 score.
 
Despite the strong start in the second half, the hosts though could not stay ahead for long. Ferrucci made four free throws in the waning minutes to give the Pride a 46-40 advantage at the end of the third and a lead they would never relinquish.
 
Ferrucci netted 19 points, which including going 15-of-20 from the line, for Widener in the winning effort. She also had five assists, three steals and committed only one turnover. Gallagher scored 14 points by shooting 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line in addition to altering two shots, while Sutliff added a season-best 13 points in a reserve. Hardy was also solid off the bench and just missed a double-double with seven points and nine boards.
 
Cabrini was paced by Martin, who contributed a game-high 20 points for the host school. Sabrina Hackendorn finished with eight points and 12 rebounds, and Oliver had a strong game across the board by adding 11 points, five boards, three assists and two blocks.
 
Widener (8-2) closes out tournament play at the Cabrini Holiday Classic when it faces Eastern, which fell to an undefeated Rowan squad earlier in the afternoon, tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.