WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Senior Meghan Dufner (Washington, N.J. / Warren Hills Regional) led Lycoming's efforts with 19 points and junior Allison Fisher (Lower Burrell, Pa. / Burrell) followed with 12 points and four 3-pointers to help the Lycoming College women's basketball team to a 74-64 victory at Wilkes University in Landmark Conference on Wednesday evening, Jan. 29, at the Marts Center.
Along with 19 points, Dufner also led Lycoming (3-15 overall, 2-9 Landmark) with 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Fisher drilled three 3-pointers in the second quarter and added another in the third quarter. Sophomore Sydnie Stone (Muncy Valley, Pa. / Montoursville Area) followed with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, and senior Alicia Goldenziel (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) was the fourth Warrior in double figures with 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Building off a nine-point advantage at the end of the third quarter, Lycoming jumped out to widen their lead in the fourth period. Less than 10 seconds into play, Dufner hit a 3-pointer and Stone followed up with a jumper, widening Lycoming's advantage to 57-45. Senior Alicia Goldenziel (Moscow, Pa. / North Pocono) added a layup in the second minute and followed up with a jumper in the third. Dufner contributed a jumper and sophomore Ann-Marie McMurtrie (Centre Hall, Pa. / Penns Valley) joined in with two layups in the fourth and fifth minutes. Stone matched McMurtrie with a layup in the seventh minute, and first-year Summer Emlet (New Cumberland, Pa. / Red Land) launched a 3-pointer in the eighth minute, bringing the Warriors' advantage to 72-54. Goldenziel followed with a jumper to close out the team's scoring.
With five lead changes and five ties throughout the game, the Warriors came back to lead the majority of the second half.
Dufner jumped out in the first quarter with layups in the second and fourth minutes, earning the Warriors a one-point advantage. Junior Kami Abdo (Pottsville, Pa. / Nativity BVM) followed up with a jumper in the sixth minute, widening Lycoming's lead to 6-3. Wilkes responded with a jumper, but Dufner helped Lycoming maintain their advantage as she drained a 3-pointer at the beginning of the seventh minute. The Colonels answered with a 3-pointer, three free throws, and two layups. Sophomore Makenna Hartman (Alexandria, Pa. / Juniata Valley) ended the quarter with a layup with 14 seconds left on the clock and a free throw with five seconds remaining, but Wilkes led, 15-12, at the end of the first quarter.
Stone kickstarted Lycoming's efforts in the second quarter with a layup. Hartman matched Stone with a layup less than 30 seconds later, which was assisted by Stone. Fisher followed with back-to-back 3-pointers in the third minute, reclaiming the Warriors lead at 22-19. After the Colonels hit a layup, Stone drove forward and posted a jumper and a free throw in the fifth minute. Fisher dropped her third 3-pointer of the quarter through the hoop seconds later. In the seventh minute, Goldenziel hit a jumper, and first-year Jocelyn McCracken (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore Area) added a free throw to end the period. The Warriors led 31-29 entering halftime.
Returning from break, Wilkes scored five points, claiming a lead that lasted less than 10 seconds. Fisher secured her fourth 3-pointer of the game in the second minute, and Dufner followed up 30 seconds later with a 3-pointer of her own. Wetzel added another 3-pointer for the Warriors 20 seconds later. Dufner made a layup in the fifth minute, and McMurtrie and Goldenziel each added a jumper, bringing the score to 46-40 with two minutes left on the clock. Stone hit a layup with 1:55 on the clock. Dufner answered with a layup and McMurtrie contributed a jumper, helping the Warriors end the quarter with a nine-point lead, 52-43.
Julianna Askins led the Colonels (0-18 overall, 0-11 Landmark) with 12 points. Dana Wartzenluft added 11 points, and both Yamirelis Matos and Carolyn Lundy contributed 8 points to the board.
The Warriors travel to Madison, N.J., on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. for a Landmark Conference game against Drew University.
