OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Feb. 6, 2016) – Senior Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, N.J.) broke the school's single-season assists record for the second straight year, but the Widener University women's basketball team fell to Stevenson by a 72-63 score on Saturday afternoon at Owings Mills Gymnasium.
 
Despite shooting just 15.4 percent and 2-of-13 from the floor, Widener only trailed 13-9 at the end of the first quarter by staying aggressive and getting to the free throw line. Five different players created balanced scoring for the Pride and the deficit was brought down to one in the final minutes, but Sarah Tarbert answered with a layup on the other end for two of her seven points in the frame and Armani Duckett-Mooney added a bucket to keep the hosts ahead.
 
The second quarter belonged to the Mustangs, who scored the first 17 points of the frame to cap a 19-0 run that dated back to the first. Kaitlyn Vantash caught fire and scored eight of the last 10 during the run before Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) put the Pride back on the board with 6:45 on the clock. Tarbert converted a layup coming out of a timeout with 1:35 left, and the Mustangs carried a commanding 38-20 advantage into the break.
 
Widener trailed by as many as 22 in the third quarter and then stormed back by slashing the deficit down to 12. Senior Brianna Wylie (Mount Laurel, N.J.) finished passes from classmates Sarah Engman (Havertown, Pa.) and Ferrucci to make it 48-36 with 3:27 on the clock and prompt a Stevenson timeout.
 
Trailing by 14 through three quarters, the Pride continued to claw their way back in the fourth and final frame. Sophomore Julia Venturelli (Bridgewater, N.J.) and Gallagher hit back-to-back shots from downtown to create a two-possession game at 56-50 with seven minutes left, but that was as close as the visitors would come. Stevenson made free throws for insurance and walked out of the gym with their eighth straight win.
 
Ferrucci was a bright spot for Widener by dishing out eight assists and ended the afternoon with 155 this winter, breaking the mark of 148 which she set last season. She also finished with six points and six steals. Gallagher scored a team-leading 19 points to go along with six boards and two blocks, while Wylie contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.
 
Tarbert, who accumulated a double-double before halftime, led Stevenson (12-6, MAC Commonwealth 9-3) by finishing the game with 30 points and 13 rebounds. She was 11-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 at the line. Vantash added 14 points, and Stephanie Martinez contributed nine points and seven helpers.
 
Widener (12-10, MAC Commonwealth 5-8) returns home to face Messiah in its annual Play4Kay game on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1:00 p.m.