Box Score The Lancaster Bible - Valley Forge Christian women's basketball rivalry was renewed on Thursday night at Horst Athletic Center and as usual, it did not disappoint as the Chargers overcame a six-point halftime deficit to defeat the Patriots, 49-46 and secure the top seed in the NCCAA East Region Playoffs.

Freshman Aubrey Folger matched a career-high with 24 points as she came up with bucket-after-bucket for the Chargers who won their 17th game of the season which is a new program record.

Things were not easy on Thursday evening as the always tough Patriots came ready to play and led 31-25 at half due in large part to Amanda Compton's play around the basket. Her easy baskets and rebounding ability gave LBC problems, but the Chargers hung tough, scoring the last four points of the first half to close their 10-point deficit to six. 

LBC's play on the defensive end was much better in the second half which combined with Valley Forge Christian's inability to get anything to go, gave the Chargers' offense time to wake up, which it did thanks to Folger.

The Chargers (17-4) opened the half on a 13-0 run over the first 8:03 as Folger poured in eight of the 13 points. Combined with scoring the final four points of the first half, LBC outscored the Patriots, 17-0 over a 10:03 stretch of the game. 

Valley Forge Christian (10-13) would not go quietly and cut the Chargers' seven-point lead to two just three minutes later on a layup by Compton. The teams traded baskets and turnovers for the next several minutes before Vanity Jones pulled the Patriots to within three, 49-46 with 1:03 to play. 

Both teams came up empty on their next possession and LBC's Lauren Heliger was fouled with eight seconds remaining. Heliger uncharacteristically missed the front end of her 1-and-1 and Valley Forge Christian had one final chance to tie the game. Senior Amanda Reich's three-point attempt hit the back of the rim and fell to floor as time expired and LBC had its second straight regular season victory over the Patriots.

"Aubrey gave us so much tonight," Chargers' Head Coach Doug Helsel said. "She guarded forwards and guards on the defensive end and hit shots from inside and outside on the offensive end. If she could drive the team van to away games, she'd really be the complete play," Helsel joked. 

Helsel thought the LBC bench, which has had its ups and downs this season, had one of its better games of the season.

"I thought they were big for us tonight," Heslel said of the bench players. "[Emily] Martz had a big three-point play tonight and Richelle [Kane]and Meaghan [Williams] played well too."

Heliger added nine points to Folger's 24, while Brooklyn Wilson had seven points.

With the victory, the Chargers earn a berth in the NCCAA East Region Final and will play either Valley Forge Christian or Cairn. Helsel said the team was happy they don't have to play an extra game and can turn the page to the rest of their NEAC schedule, starting with Wilson on Saturday.

"It's great to not have to play one more game as we go down the stretch," Helsel said. "As for Saturday, I think we need to  show ourselves that we can play well in two straight games. We've struggled a bit after big games lately and need to prove to ourselves we can put a string of games together."

Saturday is also Play4Kay day as the Chargers will wear pink during warmups to honor the fight against breast cancer. Those attending the game are also asked to wear pink.


Notes:
-The LBC men's team also won on Thursday, marking the first time LBC has swept Valley Forge Christian on the same night since February 15, 2005 in Phoenixville, Pa. The teams also accomplished the feat in Lancaster that season as well.