CHESTER, Pa. - Widener celebrated Senior Day in style, using a dominant defensive effort and balanced scoring to power past Alvernia, 70–46, at home. 

The Pride improve to 18-5 overall and 9-3 in conference play. 

BY THE NUMBERS  

• Avalynn Baer led Widener with 23 points, adding eight rebounds and three steals while shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in 29 minutes. 

• Jayla Daniels followed with eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 21 minutes of action. 

• Kimberly Casiello finished with seven points, four rebounds, and three assists across 30 minutes, while knocking down one three-pointer. 

• Giada Palmieri and Liliana Metrick each scored 10 points off the bench, with Palmieri going a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line and adding five rebounds, and Metrick hitting two three-pointers in 18 minutes of play. 

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• Widener set the tone early in the first quarter, forcing a string of turnovers and converting them into quick offense to jump out to a 4–0 lead behind back-to-back buckets from Baer. After Alvernia briefly cut it to one, Casiello and Metrick knocked down three-pointers to spark a 10–2 run that pushed the advantage to seven midway through the period. The Pride continued to capitalize at the free-throw line, with Baer and Palmieri combining for six made foul shots during a key stretch that extended the lead to double digits. Widener closed the quarter strong as Metrick buried her second three of the frame, giving the Pride a 21–9 lead after one. 

• Widener continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, extending its lead to 23–9 after a Palmieri jumper early in the period. Although Alvernia found points in the paint and at the free-throw line to briefly trim the deficit, the Pride responded with strong defense and transition offense. Riley Stackhouse sparked a key run with a fastbreak jumper, and moments later Lindsay Kutz assisted Metrick for a layup to push the advantage to 31–14. Widener closed the half on a 9–2 surge, highlighted by fastbreak finishes from Kutz and Daniels, taking a commanding 35–16 lead into the break. 

• Alvernia opened the third quarter with a quick basket in the paint, but Widener answered immediately as Daniels converted a layup off a steal to push the lead back to 19. The Pride continued to create offense through their defense, turning turnovers into fastbreak points, including a transition layup from Casiello and free throws from Stackhouse to extend the margin past 20. Although the Golden Wolves found some success inside midway through the quarter, Widener responded with balanced scoring. Baer knocked down a jumper, Casiello added another fastbreak finish, and Palmieri and Metrick each converted from the line to maintain control. The Pride closed the period strong with late buckets from Baer and Daniels, carrying a 54–31 advantage into the final quarter. 

• Widener closed out Senior Day in dominant fashion, outscoring Alvernia 16–13 in the fourth quarter to secure the 70–46 victory. Baer took over down the stretch, scoring 12 points in the period on a mix of jumpers and layups, while Daniels facilitated the offense with multiple assists and a key steal. Mia Elisano and Marie Meyers added late buckets to extend the lead to as many as 30, as the Pride's defense forced turnovers and limited the Golden Wolves' second-half opportunities to seal the win. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride remain home on Wednesday, February 18, as they take on York College. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feel free to stick around for the Men's game following this.