CHESTER, Pa. –
Brooke Bachtle made a three-pointer from the right corner with two seconds left to lift the Widener women's basketball team to a 59-57 win over third-seeded York in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Schwartz Athletic Center.
The victory put the Pride in the MAC Commonwealth final for the second straight season and 11th time in program history. The Blue and Gold also won their 11th straight game to improve to 19-6 overall.
The Pride will go for their fifth MAC championship in school history on Sunday when they play No. 1 seed Messiah in the final at Messiah's Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST YORK
- The Pride held a 54-44 lead with 6:22 left, but York managed to go on a 13-2 run to take a 57-56 lead with 44 seconds left.
- After York took the lead, the Pride had three chances at taking the lead, as Jordan D'Ambrosio missed a jump shot and Mary McFillin could not connect on a three with eight seconds remaining following an offensive rebound by Bachtle. McFillin managed to force a jump ball that gave Widener the possession with 4.4 seconds left,
- On the ensuing possession, Bachtle received a tipped pass from Nicole Barnes off the in-bounds play and the senior guard buried the go-ahead triple to give Widener the lead.
- After York called a timeout to advance the ball past half court, the Pride saw D'Ambrosio deflect the in-bounds pass by the Spartans to let the time run out and give Widener the win.
- Bachtle finished the game with eight points and nine rebounds. The Perkasie, Pa. native's game-winning three was her only made basket of the second half.
- McFillin played a major role for the Pride in the win, coming off the bench to lead them with 16 points, 11 of which came in the second half. The Exton, Pa. native shot 6-for-13 from the field and made a game-high four threes.
GAME NOTES
- D'Ambrosio added 13 points, while Barnes, Erin Phelan and Jasmine Franklin each had eight points.
- Barnes led the Pride with 10 rebounds. The Garnet Valley, Pa. native notched her sixth game of 10 or more rebounds this season.
- Before the game, the Pride honored Phelan with a commemorative 1,000-point ball for reaching the career milestone earlier this season. The Downingtown, Pa. native now has 1,083 career points for Widener.
