DOVER, Del. (Nov. 15, 2016) – Freshman Devan Rimmer (Perkasie, Pa.) netted 22 points in her collegiate debut and sophomore Emily Hardy (Lewisberry, Pa.) registered a double-double, but it wasn't enough as the Widener University women's basketball team fell to Wesley by a 71-69 decision in the season opener for both schools on Tuesday evening at Wentworth Gymnasium.

With the game tied at 69-all following a free throw by Hardy, Wesley got the ball back with 30 seconds left. Tiyanna Gibbs pulled up for a floater, but her attempt went long and fell into the hands of Brionna Johnson. The senior collected the miss and put up a contested layup that made its way through, pushing Wesley ahead with just 0.9 seconds on the clock. Widener had one more chance to at least tie the game and tried to get the ball to Hardy, but time unfortunately ran out before the sophomore could attempt a shot.

After a tight start, Hardy converted a layup to break a 4-4 tie and spark a 14-9 run for the Pride over the last seven minutes of the opening quarter. Rimmer later sank a layup to give the visitors an 18-9 advantage at the end of the frame.
 
With the defense in the process of not allowing the Wolverines to convert a field goal for a span of 7:44, Widener continued to add to its lead in the second quarter and went ahead by double digits when junior Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) converted a free throw. Hardy continued her scoring streak and reached twin figures at the 6:42 mark on a three-point play the old-fashioned way before Rimmer made two free throws to give the Pride their largest lead of the half at 35-19.
 
Wesley (1-0), which trailed 35-23 at the break, came out strong in the second half and rode the hot hand of Alexus Stroud to get back into the game. After sinking four free throws in the final minute of the second quarter, the junior guard drove in for a layup to open the scoring in the third frame and then scored five straight points to suddenly make it a one-possession game at 35-32 with 8:06 on the clock. The last basket capped a streak of 13 unanswered points for the Wolverines with Stroud accounting for 11 of them.
 
Junior Brianna Cullen (Lansdale, Pa.) temporarily thwarted Wesley's chances of taking the lead by making a layup, but Wesley would not go away and tied the score at 37s when Stroud drilled a jump shot. Despite being challenged, Widener did not surrender the lead and ended the third quarter ahead 54-46 by getting balanced scoring from six different players over the next six minutes.
 
The Wolverines, however, had another run in them in the fourth quarter and were able to move ahead for the first time since the opening minutes when Johnson drained a shot from downtown to give the hosts a 55-54 edge on the scoreboard. But the lead would not last long, as Rimmer dialed up from long distance on the other end.
 
A seesaw battle ensued with the teams exchanging the lead five more times and finding themselves deadlocked in another four instances before it was all over. But following a free throw by Hardy which knotted the score at 69s, Wesley's Johnson provided the heroics by putting back a missed jumper in the final second to allow the hosts to escape with the victory.
 
Rimmer was outstanding in her first game as a collegian, scoring a team-high 22 points for Widener by shooting 7-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-6 from long range, and 6-of-7 from the line. The freshman also added five rebounds and three steals. Hardy notched a double-double by accumulating 14 points and 10 rebounds while also setting a career high with four blocked shots.
 
Wesley was paced by Stroud's 27-point effort. She also contributed six rebounds and three steals. Gibbs netted 16 points, while Johnson added 10 points, six boards and three assists.
 
Widener (0-1) will next trek to Muhlenberg College over the weekend to compete at the Scotty Wood Invitational. The Pride will first face Bryn Athyn on Friday, Nov. 18 at 1:00 p.m. before playing in the consolation or championship game the following day.