CHESTER, Pa. – Down by 18 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Lycoming College women's basketball team fought the lead down to a one-possession game in the final minute and even had a last second shot to tie, but Widener University was able to survive, 78-75, in MAC Commonwealth action at the Schwartz Center on Saturday, Dec. 10.
 
Down 67-49 heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors (6-3 overall, 1-2 MAC Commonwealth) scored seven straight points to open the quarter as part of a 20-6 run that lasted until there was 1:55 left in the fourth, with a baseline jumper by freshman Kayla Kline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) off a give from freshman Akilah McFadden (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) making it 73-69 with 1:55 left.
 
During the run, Lycoming forced six steals and held Widener to just 2-of-9 from the field, while Kline led the team with seven points, McFadden added six and junior Haley Sipple (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) added five.
 
Widener (3-5 overall, 1-3 MAC Commonwealth) was able to get the lead back to five with 1:04 left with a free throw, but senior Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) found junior Shelby Mueller (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) inside for a layup to make it 74-71 with 57 seconds left. The Pride got three free throws in the next 30 seconds to extend the lead to six points before Calella hit a layup to make it 77-73 with 16 seconds left.
 
A pair of missed free throws by Widener kept the door open for the Warriors and McFadden drove in for a layup to make it 77-75 with seven seconds left. After fouling, the Warriors watched as Devan Rimmer hit the front end of two free throws with 4.1 seconds left. A long rebound came out to Kline who got across halfcourt and fired a running shot too high to tie the game as time expired.
 
Widener took control of the game in the second and third quarters, as it expanded a 24-21 lead at the end of the first to a 67-49 lead. In the second quarter, the Pride shot 63 percent (10-of-16) and 71 percent (5-of-7) from 3-point range. In the third, they shot 38 percent (8-of-21) but held Lycoming to 19 percent (3-of-16) before Lycoming's comeback in the final 10 minutes.
 
Four Warriors finished in double figures, led by Mueller, who became the first Warrior to post three straight double-doubles since 2002-03, posting 16 points and 13 rebounds. Sipple added 15 rebounds and nine rebounds and Kline finished with 14 points and three assists. Calella added 13 points, two assists and two steals in her first start of the season.
 
Nikki Petri led the Pride with 23 points, five rebounds and five 3-pointers and Madison Ireland finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Rimmer added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
The Warriors will wrap up their first semester by facing Alvernia in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The women will tip off at 6 p.m. before the men play at 8 p.m.