WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Down by 16 points with 9:03 left, the Lycoming College women's basketball team nearly pulled off the impossible, cutting the lead to two points with two minutes remaining before succumbing to The College of New Jersey, 64-60, in the finale of the ninth Hoops for Hounds Classic at Lamade Gym on Monday afternoon, Dec. 29.
 
The Lions (6-5 overall) used a 9-0 run thanks to two 3-pointers from Anjelica Esposito and one from Kylie O'Donnell to take a 53-37 lead with 9:03 left. The Warriors (9-2 overall) quickly responded, as junior Chelsea Henderson (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) hit a layup and junior Olivia Manges (York, Pa./West York) added a 3-pointer to make it an 11-point game. After three points by TCNJ, Lycoming ripped off the next nine points, a rally that made it 56-54 with 2:45 left after a fastbreak jumper by senior Ali Derr (New Columbia, Pa./Milton Area).
 
Henderson came up with a  huge block on the next possession by TCNJ, but the Warriors couldn't convert and TCNJ scored the next four points at the line, hitting all eight free throws in the final 131 seconds to seal the win.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with five ties and four lead changes. The Warriors pulled ahead for the first time on a steal and fastbreak give-and-go layup by senior Janelle Ziminski (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area), who got the give from Henderson that made it 10-9 with 10:53 left. The Warriors led by as many as three points in the half, as Manges hit a 3-pointer with 4:45 left to make it 21-18, but the Lions finished the half on a 12-3 run, taking a 30-24 lead into the break, as Angelica Esposito hit two 3-pointers to extend the Lions' lead.
 
Manges finished with a team-high 13 points thanks to three 3-pointers. She added two assists. Ziminski added 11 points, four rebounds and three steals, entering the top 10 in school history in thefts, finishing the game with 140. Henderson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, added 10 points, four assists, three blocks, three steals and three rebounds.
 
Derr posted nine points and six rebounds and both freshman Shelby Mueller (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) and junior Victoria Siebecker (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona) added five points.
 
Esposito finished with 18 points, hitting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc and Classic MVP Kylie O'Donnell added 15 points and five rebounds. Kelly Coughlin added nine points and six rebounds, as TCNJ  finished the game 8-of-19 from beyond the arc and 16-of-22 at the line.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Saturday, Jan. 3, when they host Widener in a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader at Lamade Gym. The women tip at 1 p.m. before the men at 3 p.m.