OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Feb. 4, 2017) – The Widener University women's basketball team dropped a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth game to Stevenson by a 65-54 score on Saturday afternoon at the Owings Mills Gymnasium.
 
Stevenson (14-8, MAC Commonwealth 9-4) burst out to a quick 9-2 lead when Sara Tarbert eclipsed the 2,000th-point plateau for her career with an off-balance shot down low. The Mustangs stayed in control throughout the frame and led 21-11 at the end of the first by getting two free throws from Tarbert in the waning seconds.
 
The Pride tried to come back and opened the scoring when junior Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) drove in for a layup at the 9:50 mark, but a suffocating Mustang defense did not allow the visitors to convert a field goal for the remainder of the half. Tarbert made another layup to secure a 19-point advantage for Stevenson at the recess.
 
In the second half, the Mustangs continued to pad their lead with Kaitlyn Vantash providing majority of the offense to balloon the lead up to 24. Widener made an attempt to come back and brought the margin down to eight on two occasions in the final minutes, but the earlier deficit proved to be too much for the Pride to overcome.
 
Tarbert paced Stevenson by registering another double-double with 27 points and 11 rebounds. She also redirected three shots. Vantash added 19 points and nine boards.
 
Freshman Devan Rimmer (Perkasie, Pa.) led Widener in scoring with 11 points, while freshman Madison Ireland contributed 10 points and five assists and Gallagher notched 10 points along with seven rebounds. All three players also recorded three steals apiece.
 
Widener (6-15, MAC Commonwealth 3-9) will look to get back on track when it hosts nationally-ranked Messiah on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.