CHESTER, Pa. – Helena Salmon and Gianna Samuels come next to each other alphabetically on the Widener women's basketball roster. They also were right next to each other in made three-pointers as the duo connected for nine treys in a 90-69 victory for the Pride against Albright on Saturday afternoon.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Three players posted career-high scoring totals for the Blue and Gold, led by Samuels who had 18, hitting 4-of-8 from distance.
• Salmon dropped 17 in the contest, going 5-of-7 from three-point range. Her previous best was 11, against St. Mary's (Md.) in the opening game of last season.
• Jordan D'Ambrosio also tallied 17, besting her previous high mark, also set against Albright.
• Erin Phelan had 13. Kyra Schenk posted 12 and pulled in 10 rebounds for her third straight double-double. Schenk also added four assists, three blocks, and a steal.
• Nicole Barnes posted seven points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
• It was the first time this season Widener had five players score in double figures and was the first time the Pride scored 90 points in a non-overtime game since January 26, 2019 against Hood.
• WU topped 50 percent shooting from the floor for the second consecutive night and outrebounded Albright 44-26.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Widener used an early 11-2 run to jump on top 18-8 on a layup by D'Ambrosio midway through the first quarter. The Lions battled back, connecting on a trey of their own with 30 seconds left in the first quarter, pulling back to 23-21. Trading baskets throughout the second period, Widener held a slim 36-34 lead with 2:36 remaining before half. At that point, Salmon caught fire, hitting triples on three consecutive possessions and then came up with a steal that led to a Schenk basket, widening the lead to 47-34 just before the break.
 
Holding a 12-point advantage with 5:29 left in the third, Samuels picked up the scoring, tallying five in a row and seven points total in a 17-7 spurt to close the frame, giving Widener a 74-52 lead heading into the final stanza. In the fourth, Salmon capped her evening with a couple more threes as the Pride maintained its lead throughout the frame.
 
UP NEXT
Widener returns to action on Thursday, February 25 when it hosts Lebanon Valley. Tipoff from the Schwartz Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.