CHESTER, Pa. – Behind a strong defensive effort and three players scoring in double figures, the Widener University women's basketball team found its way back into the win column with a 64-51 MAC Commonwealth victory against the Arcadia Knights on Wednesday evening.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Devan Rimmer and Erin Phelan tied for team-high honors with 16 points each. Phelan added six rebounds while Rimmer posted three boards and three assists.
• Mackenzie McCracken came up one point shy of tying her career-high, scoring 12 in the contest.
• Madison Ireland scored nine points, adding six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
• The Pride forced Arcadia into 21 turnovers, the fifth time this season a Widener opponent has given up the ball 20 times or more in a game.
• Widener is now 14-3 on the season, its most wins since 2013-14. The victory also guarantees the Pride at least a .500 record on the season.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams started slowly as it was nearly three minutes into the contest when Widener posted a 6-2 lead.
• Arcadia fought back and took a 7-6 edge before the squads traded buckets for the remainder of the quarter as the Knights held a 13-12 lead at the end of 10 minutes.
• The Blue and Gold took the lead back for good in the game on the first basket of the second period as Jazmine Franklin scored her first field goal of the game. Arcadia kept things close and even tied the game at 19-19 prior to the Pride scoring 12 of the final 18 points in the stanza, opening a 31-25 advantage at the break.
• Widener seized control of the game early in the third quarter as the Blue and Gold scored 11 in a row after a Knights' basket, going up 44-27. The Pride maintained a double digit lead for the remainder of the contest.

 
UP NEXT
The Pride now faces a showdown at #8 Messiah on Saturday, January 19. Tipoff from Grantham, Pa. is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.