Every game is tough in February. As the Lancaster Bible women's basketball team discovered on Saturday, even games against 1-16 opponents have their challenges. The Chargers had to fend off a surprisingly tough Penn St. Berks team on Saturday as Lancaster Bible won, 70-58 in Reading, Pa. The victory is the 11th straight for the Chargers who are now 16-3 overall and 13-1 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play. 

As Lancaster Bible was wrapping up its win in Reading, 65 miles away in Abington, Pa. the Chargers were getting help from SUNY Polytechnic as the Wildcats defeated Penn St. Abington, 51-43. Abington's loss drops them 2 1/2 games behind the Chargers for first place in the NEAC South Division. Penn St. Abington has seven games remaining, while the Chargers have six. Lancaster Bible faces SUNY Polytechnic next Friday in Utica, N.Y. in a game that could decide the host of the NEAC playoffs.

On Saturday, the Chargers jumped out to a big first half lead as they led by as many as 17 in the opening 20 minutes before taking a 39-24 lead into halftime. It was all Penn St. Berks in the first 10 minutes of the second half however as the Nittany Lions outscored the Chargers, 16-2 over the first 9:46 of the second half.

During the 9:46 stretch, Lancaster Bible turned the ball over eight times and missed five layups. Kirsten Webster finally broke the scoring drought with a jumper that gave the Chargers a 43-40 lead with 10:14 to play. Two made free throws from Aubrey Folger and a layup from Webster increased Lancaster Bible's lead to 47-40, Penn St. Berks would cut the deficit to four on three separate occasions, but Lancaster Bible began to put its foot on the gas as the Big Three of Aubrey Folger, Shanice Smith and Katy Stover began to take over on both ends of the floor. 

After the Nittany Lions cut the deficit to 51-47 with 6:38 to play, the Big Three combined to score 17 of Lancaster Bible's final 19 points. They also combined for three rebounds, a block and a steal over that time as Lancaster Bible improved to 10-2 all-time against the Nittany Lions. 

Smith finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds, while Folger had 18 points of her own to go with five rebounds and three blocks. Stover finished with 13 points and six boards as she continues her march towards 1,000 points (currently at 908 points), while Webster had 11 points and five rebounds.

"I didn't think we played very well the first 35 minutes of the game, but those last five minutes we showed we wanted it and began playing like we know we can," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Rachel Steinbarger said. "We need to show that same heart and determination we had in the final five minutes for a full 40 minutes."

In addition to the four players in double figures, sophomore Naomi Otis chipped in with eight points and her normal Energizer Bunny tempo.

"I'm so proud of Naomi and the way she played today, specifically in the first half," Steinbarger said. "She hustles all over the court and just helps the team in so many little ways."

Lancaster Bible controlled the glass as well on Saturday as the Chargers held a 44-23 rebounding advantage, including a 20-3 edge on the offensive boards. The Chargers also shot 14-of-15 from the free throw line, including a perfect 12-of-12 in the second half.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Chargers will play six games over the final 11 days of the season. That stretch begins on Tuesday when Lancaster Bible hosts Bryn Athyn at 6 p.m. Lancaster Bible defeated Bryn Athyn, 58-42 back on December 6 in Bryn Athyn, Pa. 

"We have a lot to improve on for Tuesday, but if we keep hustling and showing heart and controlling things we can control, then I like our chances against just about anyone," Steinbarger said. "Next week is a huge week for us and we need to play well."

Notes:
-The top seed in the NEAC is determined by the outcome of the game of the two division winners. For example, should Morrisville State win the NEAC North Division and Lancaster Bible win the South Division, the Chargers would host the NEAC Final Four based on their 49-41 victory over the Mustangs earlier this season. 

-Morrisville State and SUNY Polytechnic are currently tied for first place, thus the importance of Lancaster Bible's game at SUNY Polytechnic next Friday. Should Lancaster Bible win in Utica, N.Y., they will hold the tie-breaker over both of the top teams in the NEAC North Division and will only need to win the South Division to ensure being the host of the NEAC Final Four. (Sort of complicated, but it will all pan out over the next two weeks.)

-The 58 points allowed by Lancaster Bible on Saturday is the most since Cazenovia scored 70 on January 16.