Box Score

LAS VEGAS – The Lycoming College women’s basketball team held the University of Dubuque to just 21 percent shooting from the floor, but a late 10-point swing was able to help Dubuque sneak away with a 54-50 win in the Centennial Hills Community Center in the opening round of the Las Vegas Hoopla on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
 
A layup by sophomore Julia Antonelli (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford) gave the Warriors (5-4 overall) a 41-37 lead with 8:03 left, but the Spartans (5-5 overall) responded with a 12-2 run that was capped on a 3-pointer from Lauren Gabler with 2:20 left, giving Dubuque a 49-43.
 
The Warriors fought back into the game, as senior Chelsea Shearer (East York, Pa./Dallastown) responded with a quick 3-pointer and a jumper by Antonelli cut the lead to one with 1:46 left, but couldn’t get any closer, missing two free throws to tie the game with less than a minute left while the Spartans hit five of their last six at the line to ice the win.
 
In a game that featured seven ties and nine lead changes, the first half was a back-and-forth affair until Lycoming went on an 8-0 run that featured four points from freshman guard Dejonia Reid (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area), giving the Warriors a 15-9 lead midway through the half. The Spartans stayed within six and a late 5-1 run that occupied the last three minutes of the half helped them cut the lead to 21-19 at the half.
 
In the first half of the second period, the Spartans tied the game four times before finally taking a 32-31 lead with 11:48 left, but the Warriors responded with six straight points, as sophomore Jenna Morgan (Tyrone, Pa./Juniata Valley) hit a jumper to make it 37-32 with 10:41 left. However, the Spartans 3-point shot helped keep them in the game, with Gabler hitting a trey to cut the lead to two points with 9:23 left, setting up the Spartans’ final run.
 
The Warriors spread out playing time amongst 15 players, with none playing more than 22 minutes, as Shearer led the team with eight points and four assists. Freshman Janelle Ziminski (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area) added seven points and four rebounds, Antonelli posted six points and seven rebounds and freshman Kylee Sutton (Wysox, Pa./Towanda Area) added six points. Freshman Kat Andriani (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) posted six rebounds and sophomore Katelyn McKillop (Mount Pocono, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) notched a career-high three steals.
 
The Spartans were led by 16 points and five rebounds from Kayla Springer and seven points, four steals and 12 rebounds from Heather Taylor.
 
The Warriors wrap up the Las Vegas Hoopla on Wednesday, Dec. 21, when they face the loser of the Benedictine and Muskingum game at 10 a.m.