DALLAS, Pa. - Playing on the collegiate court of her dad, Rich, senior Mya Wetzel (Frackville, Pa. / North Schuylkill) posted a career-high 26 points to go with seven 3-pointers — the second most in program history — to lead the Lycoming College women's basketball team to a 62-46 win over Misericordia University in the team's final non-conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 4, at the Anderson Center.
Wetzel made her first 3-pointer in the first minute of the first quarter and added her second in the final moments of the second period. Three of Wetzels' 3-pointers came in the third quarter. After Misericordia started the period with a free throw and a layup, Wetzel drained a 3-pointer in the first minute, another two minutes later, and a third in the fourth minute. She added two more treys in the fourth, connecting in the second and fourth minutes to secure a career-high seven 3-pointers and give her 147 in her career.
Wetzel also notched four steals and one block to lead Lycoming (2-9 overall, 1-3 Landmark Conference). Junior Kami Abdo (Pottsville, Pa. / Nativity BVM) added eight points, two assists and a steal. Senior Ashley Yoh (Myerstown, Pa. / Eastern Lebanon County) contributed eight points, nine rebounds, and a block, senior Alicia Goldenziel (Moscow, Pa. / North Pocono) recorded six rebounds and four assists, and junior Allison Fisher (Lower Burrell, Pa. / Burrell) added five rebounds and five points.
In the first minute of the game, Wetzel jumped out with a steal, and hit her first 3-pointer off an assist by Abdo, which started Lycoming's early lead. Abdo and senior Meghan Dufner (Washington, N.J. / Warren Hills Regional) followed up with two free throws each. Abdo, Wetzel, and Dufner each added a layup with three minutes remaining. Sophomore Alyssa Reisinger (Kulpmont, Pa. / Mount Carmel Area) posted another layup with 30 seconds left on the clock to secure Lycoming's 15-11 first quarter lead.
Reisinger hit the Warriors' first layup of the second quarter and immediately followed up with a free throw. Yoh posted a layup, leading to a Misericordia timeout. Sophomore Makenna Hartman (Alexandria, Pa. / Juniata Valley) hit a floating jump shot, assisted by Wetzel, and a minute later, Wetzel came back with a layup of her own. Abdo added two free throws, and Wetzel contributed her second 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining as the Warriors maintained a 13-point advantage. With six seconds on the clock, Reisinger hit a jumper to bring Lycoming's lead to 31-18 as the game entered halftime.
Wetzel led the Warriors in the third quarter with three 3-pointers. Yoh also added a layup with 17 seconds left in the quarter, helping the Warriors maintain a close 43-36 advantage and withstand a run of 15 straight Cougar points.
Dufner kicked off the fourth quarter with a layup before assisting Wetzel with her sixth 3-pointer. Fisher contributed a layup to widen the gap before Wetzel followed up with her seventh trifecta. Yoh hit two layups before Fisher returned with a 3-pointer of her own. With less than two minutes remaining, Abdo posted a layup, which brought the score to 62-46, as Lycoming outscored the Cougars, 19-10, in the final 10 minutes.
Ava Cirigliano led the Cougars (2-9 overall) with 13 points, and Jocelyn Grosch followed up with 10 points. Emily Romanowski posted 11 rebounds, four steals, two assists, and one block to help Misericordia's efforts.
The Warriors return to the Lamade Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 2 p.m. to kickoff a Landmark Conference doubleheader against The Catholic University of America, with the men's game following at 4 p.m.
