ASTON, Pa. (Dec. 9, 2015) – Sophomore Julia Venturelli (Bridgewater, N.J.) netted a career-high 22 points and drilled six shots from long range to propel the Widener University women's basketball team to a 77-64 triumph over Neumann on Wednesday evening at the Mirenda Center. The Pride extended their winning streak to six games with the victory.
 
Widener (6-1) scored the game's first six points and once again led from wire-to-wire. Venturelli, who netted 12 points in the first half, sank her first of six shots from downtown to jumpstart the offense before junior Aly Furgiuele (Norwalk, Conn.) converted a jumper to make it 8-2. Neumann clawed back and pulled within one at 11-10 when Lauren Legler finished a pass from Sarah Roberts just past the midway point of the opening quarter, but the Knights would come no closer for the remainder of the game.
 
The Pride began padding their lead by outscoring the hosts 24-15 in the second quarter. Freshman Emily Hardy (Lewisberry, Pa.) extended the margin to twin figures by sinking two free throws to make it 27-17 with 6:29 left, and senior Sarah Engman (Havertown, Pa.) and sophomore Brianna Cullen (Lansdale, Pa.) each drove in for layups in the final minute to give the visitors a 42-29 cushion at recess.
 
The third quarter was also dominated by Widener, as the Pride scored the first 10 points of the frame to extend their lead up to 23 points at 52-29. Venturelli stayed hot by canning consecutive shots from downtown during the opening stretch and ballooned the Pride advantage up to 26 on two occasions by driving in for a layup and sinking two shots from the charity stripe. The sophomore also set up an Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) layup which made it 64-38 with under a minute remaining in the third, and the visitors would eventually run away with their sixth straight win.
 
Venturelli broke loose with 22 points by shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 6-of-10 from 3-point land, and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe to lead the way for Widener. Senior Brianna Wylie posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, N.J.) dished out seven assists and had seven steals. Hardy corralled eight boards, including six on the offensive end.
 
Neumann (3-4) was paced by JoHanna Metzger, who tallied a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. She also blocked two shots. Lauren Legler reached twin figures in scoring with 16 points and Nafisa Saunders netted 17 off the bench.
 
Widener resumes Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play when it hosts Stevenson on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m.