CHESTER, Pa. – Four players scored in double figures as the Widener women's basketball team got the new season off to a good start with a 66-55 victory against the Stevenson Mustangs in a MAC Commonwealth battle on Thursday evening.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• First year player Gianna Samuels shined in her collegiate debut, leading the Pride with 16 points off the bench, connecting on all four of her three-point attempts and shooting 6-for-9 from the field overall.
• Erin Phelan and Jordan D'Ambrosio each posted 12 points. Phelan tied for the team-high with nine rebounds while D'Ambrosio added eight assists.
• Kyra Schenk had 11 points, all in the first half, and matched Phelan's rebound total.
• Nicole Barnes had a strong evening, with seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Widener jumped out early, going up 8-2 on a layup by Barnes midway through the first. The offense stalled during the rest of the period as the Mustangs closed the gap to 9-8 at the end of 10 minutes. Holding that same one-point lead with 4:55 to go before halftime, Widener went on a 10-0 run in the next 3:19 that saw five different players score, pushing the lead to 29-18.
 
Stevenson closed the gap early in the third as a quick 7-2 run closed the gap to 35-30. Finding its transition game, the Pride responded with a 16-5 spurt to close the frame, keyed by eight points from Samuels. The Blue and Gold kept the Mustangs at arm's length during the fourth quarter, as the lead never dipped below six for the remainder of the contest.
 
UP NEXT
The two teams go at it again in the second game of the home-and-home series on Friday, February 12. Tipoff from the Owings Mills Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.