Lancaster Bible junior Katy Stover set a new program record for points in a game as she poured in 43 points in 37 minutes to help the Chargers blow past Penn St. Berks, 95-64 on Wednesday night at Horst Athletic Center. The previous record of 41 points was set by Jill London on December 11, 1984 against United Wesleyan. 

Stover and the Chargers were hot from the get-go as they scored 53 points in the first half on 17-of-33 (51.5 percent) and led 53-24 at the break. Stover had 23 points in the opening half as she was 6-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Stover also got to the free throw line 10 times, converting seven of them. 

Lancaster Bible controlled play from the opening tip as they led 19-5 just 7:25 into the contest and eventually led by 29 on two separate occasions, including at the half.

The second half featured much of the same as both teams shot the ball well. Penn St. Berks was 15-of-30 (50 percent) from the field in the second half en route to 40 points, while the Chargers shot 17-of-30 (56.7 percent) from the floor. 

Though she didn't get to the free throw line in the second half, Stover remained hot as she was 8-of-12 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. With the record in reach, Stover hit a running jumper with 22 seconds remaining as the Chargers won their 25th consecutive North Eastern Athletic Contest. In addition to the 43 points, Stover also added seven rebounds and had a team-high six assists. 

The game was a complete turnaround for Stover who struggled find her shot over the past two games, both Lancaster Bible losses. Stover had just 12 points over the past two games after scoring 28 in the Chargers season-opening win over Baptist Bible. 

"I just wanted to play a well-rounded game tonight," Stover said. "I wanted to focus on this game and not think about the last two games. They are behind me and tonight my teammates did a great job of finding me when I was open."

Stover said she knew the night might be special when she came out in the second half and was still shooting well.

"I've shot well in a lot of first halfs in my career, but for some reason don't always shoot well in the second half," Stover said. "Tonight the shots kept going in and as I said, my teammates did a great job moving the ball around and gave me good opportunities to be successful."

Stover's previous game-high was set last season when she scored 32 points in Lancaster Bible's 80-65 victory over Penn St. Harrisburg. When asked what breaking an almost 30-year record meant to her, Stover said it was nice, but the team victory was much more important.

"I didn't think I would be the one who would break this record, especially since it has stood for so long, but tonight was just a huge win for us," Stover said. "We had two difficult games back-to-back and with this being the conference opener, it was our chance to refocus and play well and I think we did that."

Lancaster Bible Head Coach Rachel Steinbarger echoed Stover's statements.

"I'm so proud of the girls and the way they played tonight," Steinbarger said. "We struggled for two games with a lot of things and our chemistry seemed off. Tonight we were in sync and the girls played a complete game."

Steinbarger was equally impressed with Stover and how in addition to the 43 points she did other things as well.

"When Katy plays with confidence, she is a great player," Steinbarger said. "From the scoring to the assists and rebounding to the leadership, she led us tonight."

Junior Aubrey Folger had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for Lancaster Bible, while Shanice Smith added six points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Kirsten Webster chipped in with a career-high 13 points, while Christy Lorah had seven points and four assists.

Lancaster Bible (2-2, 1-0 NEAC) returns to the floor on Saturday when they will take on new NEAC member Bryn Athyn. The Chargers and Wildcats have never met and Steinbarger thinks a road victory will go a long way for the Chargers, especially with Christmas Break approaching.

"We need to win a game on the road," Steinbarger said. "We haven't done that yet and it is a mental hurdle we have to clear, especially before everything gets crazy with Finals Week and Christmas Break."

The Chargers scheduled to tip-off with the Wildcats on Saturday at 1 p.m. and will play one more game prior to leaving for break on Friday, December 12 against Penn St. Harrisburg.

Notes:
-Jill London is the only other player to score 40 or more points in a single game in Lancaster Bible women's basketball history. London also scored 38 points in a game on Nov. 22, 1985, a record she shares with her twin sister Jodi London who scored 38 points in a game on Nov. 14, 1986. 

-Lancaster Bible is now 9-2 all-time against Penn St. Berks.

-Lancaster Bible's last NEAC loss came on January 21, 2013 at SUNY Polytechnic when the Chargers lost, 88-81.

-The Chargers are 23-3 all-time in NEAC play at home and have not lost a home NEAC contest since February 16, 2012 when St. Elizabeth defeated Lancaster Bible, 76-65.