RADNOR, Pa. – Madison Ireland and Kyra Schenk each recorded their first career double double in a 72-70 victory against the Eastern University Eagles on Sunday afternoon at Netely Field House.

The Pride was paced by Ireland who fell just short of a triple double with 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Devan Rimmer contributed 15 points while Schenk tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds, respectively. Allison Gallagher added 10 points and pulled down four boards. As a team, Widener shot 41.4 percent from the floor and held a slight 42-37 edge on rebounds.
 
A big first quarter in which the Pride racked up 26 points featured a 10-2 run to nearly end the stanza. Rimmer knocked down a trey to spark the run and gave the Pride momentum heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was much more tightly contested as both teams consistently knocked down shots to keep the gap close. Widener led by double figures for a majority of the frame until the last 13 seconds when Taylor Azer sank two free throws to put Eastern behind 38-32 at the half.

Ahead by six, Widener continued to keep its foot on the gas pedal with a 20-4 run as it ballooned the lead to as many as 18 by the end of the third quarter. A three pointer by Ireland ignited the run with 7:18 on the clock and Nikki Petri closed out the scoring with two back-to-back shots to give Widener assurance heading into the fourth quarter.

The game, however, did not end without drama as the Eagles dropped 28 points in the quarter and cut the margin down to two on four occasions.  After a Widener layup by Schenk, Taylor Price answered with a two-point play of her own to make it 70-68 with only eight seconds remaining. Gallagher then regained the four-point lead one second later with a pair of made free throws to secure the lead and give Widener the victory.

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The Pride will return to Chester, Pa. on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7:00 p.m. when it takes on the Penn State Brandywine Lions.