FREDERICK, Md. (Jan. 14, 2017) – Junior captain Nikki Petri (Congers, N.Y.) netted 17 points and classmate Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) scored a clutch basket down the stretch in leading the Widener University women's basketball team to a thrilling 60-57 victory over Hood on Saturday afternoon at BB&T Arena.
 
The Pride led 49-42 at the end of the third and held off a ferocious comeback attempt by the Blazers to escape with the win. Taylor McGaughey first tied up the score at 55s with 3:35 left by drilling one of her six 3-pointers before Widener sophomore Emily Hardy(Lewisberry, Pa.) went in strong for a layup to give the visitors the edge. After Hood's Dajah Gee sank two free throws to the knot things up with a minute left, Gallagher then drove down the left side for a layup and provide what would eventually be the game-winning basket with 38 seconds left.
 
The game, however, did not end without more drama. Following a Devan Rimmer (Parkasie, Pa.) free throw which made it 60-57 with 18 seconds left, the Blazers had two opportunities to at least tie the score and force overtime. McGaughey was first given the opportunity to provide the heroics, but her shot rimmed out and was corralled by Petri. Even though the junior captain was unsuccessful on both of her charity stripe attempts at the other end and the Blazers got the rebound, Hood's ensuing 3-point attempt would not fall and allow the Pride to survive.
 
Widener started the game on fire and built up a 7-0 cushion less than a minute into the contest by getting a layup from Rimmer, two free throws by freshman Madison Ireland (Garnet Valley, Pa.) and a trifecta from Petri in a span of just 20 seconds. McGaughey, however, led a comeback for the Blazers by scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, which included sinking both of her 3-point field attempts, to bring the hosts back within two at the 2:04 mark which was how the quarter would end.
 
Hood temporarily took the lead in the second quarter when McGaughey canned another 3-pointer, but the visitors quickly recovered and regained the edge when Gallagher dialed up from long distance to put her team ahead by a 24-22 score at the 3:37 mark. Freshman Kylie Herman (Shillington, Pa.) and Petri followed with jumpers, and the Pride carried a 28-25 advantage into the break.
 
The Blazers came out strong in the second half by scoring seven unanswered to set up a seesaw battle throughout the third quarter. After six lead changes, Widener found itself with the upper hand again and went ahead by as many as eight courtesy of back-to-back 3-pointers coming from Petri and freshman Anjelica Borja (Somerville, N.J.) to prompt a timeout. The Pride would never trail the rest of the way.
 
Petri netted 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Widener, which had a commanding 22-5 advantage in bench scoring. Gallagher and Borja poured in 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Hardy finished with eight boards and Ireland dished out five assists.
 
Hood (6-10, MAC Commonwealth 1-6) was paced by McGaughey and Gee. McGaughey scored a game-high 20 points, and Gee registered a double-double with 17 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
 
Widener (5-11, MAC Commonwealth 2-5), which has had four of its last five games decided by three points or less, will return home to host Arcadia on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.