Box Score Turning the ball over 35 times in a 40 minute game is generally the main ingredient for a blowout, but somehow, mainly on the free throw line, the Lancaster Bible women's basketball took NCAA Division II foe Wilmington (Del.) to the wire before the Wildcats pulled out a 79-72 victory on Monday night at Horst Athletic Center.

The Chargers (5-4) were equal opportunity gift givers on Monday as they committed 18 turnovers in the first half and 17 in the second half. The 35 turnovers are the most in a game since the Chargers turned the ball over 35 times in a 69-62 win at St. Joseph's Brooklyn on February 12, 2010.

Despite the 18 first half turnovers however, the Chargers actually led 36-32 at halftime, something that Lancaster Bible Head Coach Doug Helsel basically told the team to ignore at halftime. 

"I'm not really even sure how we scored 36 points to be honest," Helsel said. "I thought we played pretty well defensively in the first half, but not so much offensively."

The game remained a back-and-forth affair for much of the second half as neither team could pull away. For every Lancaster Bible turnover, they would come right back down the floor, draw a foul and make the free throw shots. 

Lancaster Bible junior Shanice Smith scored two of her team-high 23 points with a layup at the 9:09 mark to cut the Wilmington lead to 49-48, but the Wildcats went on a 18-5 run over the next 3:11 to increase their lead to 67-53. The Chargers cut the deficit to six at 71-65 with 2:45 to play, but could not get any closer as turnovers and Wilmington's 4-of-6 effort from the free throw line in the final minute iced the game.

"Wilmington is scrappy and quick and you just can't turn the ball over 35 times and expect to win," Helsel said. "With all of that said, we are going to get better by playing good competition and tonight is going to help us in the long run. We want to win the last NEAC game of the year (the NEAC Final), not necessarily go undefeated."

In addition to Smith's 23 points, she grabbed 16 rebounds, while sophomore Katy Stover had 18 points and six boards. Fellow sophomore Aubrey Folger had 14 points and 12 boards and junior Sarah Heilenman added eight points and five rebounds.

Wilmington sophomore Tenicia Spence had a game-high 36 points for the Wildcats in 28 minutes of play.

The Chargers return to NEAC play on Saturday as they head North on Route 222 to Reading, Pa. to take on Penn St. Berks at 3 p.m. 


Notes:
-Wilmington won last year's contest, 72-61 in Wilmington, Del.

-The double-double is Smith's fourth of the season and second with 23+ points and 16+ rebounds.