WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Firing nine 3-pointers and shooting better than 53 percent from the floor in the first half, the Lycoming College women's basketball team built a 33-point before cruising in the second half and closing out an 80-50 win over Alvernia University in MAC Commonwealth action on Tuesday evening, Dec. 13, at Lamade Gym.
 
In the first half, the Warriors (7-3 overall, 2-2 MAC Commonwealth) shot an impossibly hot 69 percent from 3-point range canning nine in the first 20 minutes and seven in the second quarter to build a 33-point lead at the break, 55-22. Junior Haley Sipple (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) led the way with 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers and all seven shots from the field and sophomore Shelby Schoonover (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) posted 11 points, hitting 3-of-4 from deep.
 
After a slow start, the Warriors took their first lead at 6-5 with 6:35 left in the second quarter, igniting the team on an 18-4 run to end the quarter, as Sipple led the run with 10 points. The Warriors continued to run in the second quarter, shooting 63 percent from the field (12-of-19) and expanding the lead by 20 points to 33 by the end of the quarter after freshman Morgan Mader (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) hit a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left.
 
In the second half, the Crusaders (0-8 overall, 0-4 MAC Commonwealth) got as close as 24 points, as Lycoming played 15 members of its team and 11 found the scoring column. The Warriors reached 80 points for the second time in conference play, meanwhile, as it finished the game shooting 41 percent from the floor (32-of-78) and 59 percent from downtown (10-of-17).
 
Sipple led the Warriors with all of her 18 points in the first half and Schoonover added all of her 11 points in the first period. Junior Shelby Mueller (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) posted eight points and seven rebounds in just 12 minutes, Mader finished with nine points and three rebounds and sophomore Jenn Grove (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) also added eight points and seven rebounds to go with three assists.
 
Freshman Kayla Kline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) added seven points, seven rebounds and three assists and freshman Akilah McFadden (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) added five points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Senior Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) posted four points and five assists and freshman Taylor Saunders (Hartford, Conn./Watkinson School) also added four points and three rebounds.
 
Alvernia was led by 11 points from Liz Andrefski and 10 a piece from Abbie Zerbe and Maya Cooper. Miranda Hoover posted six points, four assists, four blocks and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Warriors dominated the specialty stats, holding a 34-10 advantage in the paint, 23-8 in points off turnover and 22-10 in second-chance points.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Wednesday, Dec. 28, when they host Hiram in the first round of the Hoops for Hounds Tournament at 5 p.m.