CARLISLE, Pa. – Senior Ali Derr (New Columbia, Pa./Milton Area) used a tournament MVP performance of 18 points and four rebounds to lead the Lycoming College women's basketball team to its first in-season tournament title since 2009, as it held off a late rally from Dickinson College to post a 60-56 win in the championship game of the Days Inn Tip-Off Tournament at the Kline Center on Sunday, Nov. 16.
 
Down by a point at halftime, the Warriors (2-0 overall) turned inside in the second half, shooting 50 percent (13-of-26) from the floor in the final 20 minutes and holding a 20-6 advantage in the paint over Dickinson (1-1 overall).
 
With the score tied at 30 a minute into the second half, sophomore Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) hit a jumper, starting a run of six straight points and start a 17-7 run that gave Lycoming a 47-37 lead with 11:25 left after a jumper by freshman Haley Sipple (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester).
 
The Devils spent the remaining time trying to close that gap, getting within two points at 49-47 with 5:17 left on a 3-pointer from Liz Schultz, but Lycoming answered, as Derr hit a pair of free throws 20 seconds later. The Devils pulled within three points twice more, but never got a possession to tie it. After a Helen Roberts trey made it 58-55 with 1:16 left, the Warriors grabbed two offensive rebounds on their next possession before Derr hit a jumper with 24 seconds left to ice the win.
 
The Warriors jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first half after a jumper by Calella with 15:27 left, but Dickinson responded with a 14-3 run to take a 16-11 lead with 9:38 left. The Warriors came back with a run of 11 straight points by the time sophomore Chelsea Henderson (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) hit a jumper with 5:53 left. Late in the half, the Devils scored seven straight to help it take a narrow 27-26 lead into the break.
 
Calella finished with a career-high 13 points and three assists and freshman Shelby Mueller (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) added 12 points and five rebounds, helping each claim spots on the All-Tournament Team alongside Derr, who finished with 18 points off 8-of-14 shooting. Senior Janelle Ziminski (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area) notched a game-high 10 rebounds and Sipple posted seven points.
 
Myonie Williamson finished with 11 points to lead the Devils and Schultz posted five points, five rebounds and two assists. Sam Kennedy, Mary Martin and Kelsey Walsh each notched seven points and Roberts added eight.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when they head to Penn State Hazleton for a 6 p.m. game.