WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Sophomore guard Olivia Manges (York, Pa./West York) hit a school-record nine 3-pointers and scored a career-high 32 points, as the Lycoming College women's basketball team beat Widener University, 84-67, for the first time since 2009 on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 1, at Dutch Burch Court at Lamade Gym.
The win moved the Warriors (9-9 overall, 6-6 Commonwealth) into solo possession of the fifth and final playoff slot with six games remaining in the season, as the Pride, a 2013 Elite Eight team, fell to 10-9 overall and 5-7 in the Commonwealth. Albright, who entered the day tied with Lycoming and Widener, fell to Messiah, 81-53.
"One of our mottos right now is that every game is a playoff game," head coach Christen Ditzler said. "We don't want teams to take two games from us, especially teams that we're in the hunt for third, fourth or fifth place with. I don't think people are looking forward to coming into Lamade Gym to play us because right now, we are playing some of our best basketball, both offensively and defensively."
The Warriors were led early in the game by senior Julia Antonelli (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford), who posted 16 first-half points, before finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven assists for her 25th career double-double. She also added two blocks and two steals.
However, it was Manges, who hit her first 3-pointer with 8:47 left in the first half, who took over, hitting three more 3-pointers to help build a 16-point lead before she canned five more 3-pointers en route to becoming the first Warrior to score 30 points in a game since Lyndy LeVan scored 30 against Centenary (N.J.) on Nov. 24, 2002. Her nine 3-pointers smashed the record of six, which had been achieved six times.
"Honestly, that wasn't my goal going into the game, but it feels pretty good (to break the record)," Manges, who went 9-for-12 from downtown, said. "My shot had been a littly iffy the last few games, but I felt really relaxed and focused (Saturday). Every shot that left my hand felt good."
The Warrior offense, which had averaged just 51.8 points in the previous 10 games against the Pride, was hot all game, finishing by shooting 51 percent (32-of-63) from the floor, including 53 percent (10-of-19) from 3-point range. The 84 points were the most for the Warriors since an 89-46 win over Penn College on Nov. 16, 2010. It was the most points against a NCAA opponent since an 88-84 win over SUNY Purchase on Nov. 18, 2006.
Early in the game, Antonelli was the key for the Warriors, as she hit her first five shots and gave Lycoming a 10-2 lead with 13:16 left. The Pride fought back into the game, tying it at 14 before Manges hit her first 3-pointer, which made it 17-14. However, the league's leading scorer, Jen Egee responded with a trey and the teams traded layups before one of Manges' 3-pointers gave Lycoming the lead for good and made it 22-19. From there, the Warriors rolled on a 21-5 run to close the half, with Manges hitting her fourth 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to seal the run.
In the second half, Manges continued to keep the drama out of the game, tying the school-record of six 3-pointers with 14:18 left, as she got a feed from sophomore Chelsea Henderson (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers), giving the Warriors a 55-35 lead. She broke the record four minutes later, hitting a three on a give from Antonelli to make it 60-43. Less than 20 seconds later, she hit another and Widener couldn't get closer than 15 points of the Warriors the rest of the way.
"I'm not quite sure what Olivia had for breakfast or what happened, but as a shooter, that was one of those unconscious type of days where everything goes in," Ditzler said of Manges. "Opposing defenses don't quite know what to do with that."
Junior Ali Derr (New Columbia, Pa./Milton Area) notched 11 points, four assists and three rebounds and freshman Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) added six points, three steals and two assists. Sophomore Victoria Siebecker (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) added five points, three assists and three rebounds.
Egee posted 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lead the Pride. Kristina Reiter added 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
The Warriors turned the ball over just 13 times while Widener turned the ball over 22 times, leading to a 23-12 advantage in points off turnover.
The Warriors get back on the court on Wednesday, Feb. 5, when they host Messiah in a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader. The women tip at 6 p.m. before the men play at 8 p.m.