Box Score What a week it has been for the Lancaster Bible women's basketball team. After winning the program's first NCCAA East Region title since 2003 on Wednesday, the Chargers won the crown jewel of them all, taking home the North Eastern Athletic Conference title on Sunday with a 67-63 victory over Keuka. The win earns the Chargers (23-4) an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III National Tournament, also a program first.

On Sunday, LBC rallied from 12 points down in the second half to earn the four-point victory. Junior Brooklyn Wilson led all scorers with 20 points on the legs of five three-pointers, many of which gave the Chargers the momentum they needed to complete the comeback. Tournament MVP, Lauren Heliger, added 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Chargers, while Aubrey Folger had 12 points and nine boards.

The game started slow for LBC as they trailed 9-2 in the first six minutes of the game and didn't record their first bucket until 13:38 was on the clock. The Chargers didn't panic however and began to right the ship as they used a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the day at 11-9 with 11:43 to play in the first half. 

Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half as the teams combined for just one bucket during a 6:01 span towards the end of the first half. Keuka scored a few late buckets to take a 26-23 lead into halftime, but it was what the Storm to start the second half that scared many in the LBC cheering section that today might not be the day for the Chargers.

After the Chargers tied the game at 30-30 just 2:15 into the second half, the Storm used a 13-1 run over the next 3:21 to take control of the game. LBC took a few points off the deficit a couple of times, but Keuka kept making buckets and held a 47-40 lead with 11:28 to play. 

LBC kept coming and trimmed the deficit to one at 51-50 with 7:03 to play and finally tied the game on a three-pointer by Wilson with 6:11 to go. The Chargers took their first lead of the second half on a jumper by Heliger just 21 seconds later as the teams once again went end-to-end matching buckets and stops. 

Keuka's Danielle Gravel put the Storm back in front with 3:24 to go on two free throws, but 12 seconds later, Heliger hit one of her two three-pointers on the day to give LBC a one-point lead. Mariah Mouzon gave Keuka the lead again with 2:55 to play and after and empty possession by both teams, Folger tied the game at 62-62 after going one-of-two from the free throw line.

Both teams came up empty on their next two possessions before Mouzon fouled Heliger with 51 seconds to play. Heliger sunk both freebies to give LBC a 64-62 lead. Gravel missed a jumper on the other end and the Storm fouled Wilson with 29 seconds remaining.

Wilson hit both free throws to make it a two-possession game. Gravel just missed giving herself a chance for a three-point play as she was fouled, but her layup rolled around the rim and wouldn't go. She hit one of two from the line to cut the deficit to 66-63, but LBC worked the ball around to kill time before Keuka finally fouled Wilson with six seconds to play. Wilson missed the first free throw, but after a timeout, drained the second and the party commenced at mid-court for the LBC players and fans.

"We try not to get too low or too high during the course of a game," Chargers' Head Coach Doug Helsel said about his team facing a 12-point deficit in the second half. "We stuck with it and it paid off."

Helsel said he wasn't displeased with the team's play in the first half, despite the team's poor shooting (25%, 7-of-28).

"We didn't knock the shots down, but our defense played well," Helsel said. "We only shot 25 percent, but trailed by just three."

Helsel said though he was a bit worried when the score read 43-31 Keuka on the scoreboard, he could see Heliger, Wilson and Folger were getting ready to take the game over.

"Lauren gets that look in her eyes and you just sort of know that she's going to put the team on her back and she did," Helsel said. "Brooklyn's three-pointers were huge and though Aubrey struggled in the first half, she was clutch in the second half."

The women's basketball team joins the LBC women's soccer team as the only teams to advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Helsel said he hasn't given much thought to the idea of going to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

"Our goal all season long has been to make the NEAC Final, anything after that would be icing on the cake," Helsel said. "I'm so proud of the girls. They are such a great group and they have such great unity and it really makes my job easy."

The Chargers will learn who their first round opponent is on Monday at 2:30 at the Division III Selection Show.


Notes:
-LBC finished the season a perfect 16-0 at Horst Athletic Center

-The Chargers trailed or were tied at halftime six times this season at home and won all six games.

-Heliger eclipsed the 1,500-point mark on Sunday and now has 1,502 points in her storied career.