Box Score

CHESTER, Pa. – Rallying from down eight points with 4:41 left, the Lycoming College women's basketball team saw a game-tying layup at the buzzer fall off, helping Widener University escape with a 55-53 Commonwealth Conference win on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11, at the Schwartz Athletic Center.
 
Down by eight points at 47-39 with 4:41 left, the Warriors (6-6 overall, 3-3 Commonwealth) drew back into the game quickly with a 7-1 run over the next three minutes, as sophomore Chelsea Henderson (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) hit a fastbreak layup, senior Julia Antonelli (Hanover, Pa./Nex Oxford) hit a layup and freshman Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) hit a jumper during the run, with Calella jumper making it 48-46.
 
After a Widener (9-4 overall, 4-2 Commonwealth) turnover, the Warriors missed a 3-pointer that would have given it the lead before the Pride was forced to win the game at the line, where they hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 42 seconds. Meanwhile, the Warriors stayed close, with Antonelli hitting four free throws and sophomore Olivia Manges (York, Pa./West York) hit a huge 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to make it 54-53. After the ensuing foul, Widener's Joanna Persiano hit 1-of-2 free throws to help make up the final margin.
 
Antonelli finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists, leaving her two points shy of becoming the ninth player in school history to reach 1,000 points. Henderson posted her first career double-double, notching 14 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Manges added 12 points and two 3-pointers.
 
The Warriors started the game hot, taking a 19-7 lead at the 7:28 mark of the first half after a fastbreak layup by Manges. The Pride got back in the game, though, with a 16-5 run, taking the lead with 44 seconds left in the half before a layup by Calella gave the Warriors a 27-26 lead at the break.
 
After trading a pair of buckets to start the second half, an 11-1 run by Widener gave it a 39-30 lead with 15:33 left and they maintained a two-possession lead until Lycoming's run in the last five minutes.
 
Calella posted seven points and both sophomore Janelle Ziminski (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area) added two assists and three steals.
 
Jen Egee led the Pride with 19 points, eight rebounds and five steals and Brianna Wylie posted 13 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Pride were hampered by 26 turnovers, leading to 18 Warrior points, but benefitted from 43 free throw attempts, as they hit 24, while Lycoming hit 13.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when they head to Lebanon Valley, who is in for a three-way tie for first in the Commonwealth Conference, for a 6 p.m. game.