For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Lancaster Bible women's basketball team will not be in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Final as the Chargers lost to Morrisville State, 73-59 in the NEAC Semifinals held in Utica, N.Y. The loss drops the Chargers to 21-5 and Lancaster Bible will now shift its attention to the NCCAA Division II National Tournament which will be held in Joplin, Mo. from March 12-14. 

On Saturday, the Chargers and Mustangs went back-and-forth for the entire first half before the Mustangs opened up a six-point lead, 35-29 heading into halftime. Lancaster Bible shot just 9-of-27 (33 percent) in the first 20 minutes, but went 11-of-15 (73 percent) from the free throw line to keep the game close.

The Mustangs raced out of the gate in the second half and used a 12-2 run over the first 4:48 of the second half to open up a 47-31 lead. Morrisville State increased the lead to 58-38 four minutes later and put the game out of reach for the Chargers. Lancaster Bible fared no better from the field in the second half as they once again shot 33 percent (12-of-36) en route to a 21-of-63 performance for the game. Morrisville State meanwhile shot 31-of-67 (46 percent) from the field and improved to 20-7 with the win.

Highlight Video

The game was a complete reversal from the regular season contest between the two teams which the Chargers won, 49-41 in Lancaster. 

"We didn't deserve to win today," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Rachel Steinbarger said. "We were too inconsistent for 35 minutes of the game and we hurt ourselves by not playing the type of basketball we normally play."

Junior Aubrey Folger finished with 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds and also added four steals, while Kirsten Webster had 14 points and two steals. Junior Katy Stover was the only other player in double figures for the Chargers as she scored 13 points and added three steals. Shanice Smith had eight points and 12 rebounds with two blocks, while Christy Lorah chipped in with five points and five rebounds.

"We didn't do a great job defensively and really made it difficult for ourselves on both ends of the floor," Steinbarger said.

Lancaster Bible, the NCCAA East Region Champion, will now await the release of the NCCAA Division II bracket as they will travel to Joplin, Mo. for the second straight season. Last season, Lancaster Bible lost its opening game, but rebounded to earn a 5th place finish. 

"We will be ready for the NCCAA National tournament," Steinbarger said. "We need some time off to rest, but we will be fine and look forward to playing well in Missouri."

Notes:
-Folger now has 1,487 points in her career and is just 30 away from breaking the all-time Lancaster Bible mark of 1,516 set by Lauren Heliger (2009-13).

-Folger is also just 49 rebounds from 1,000 in her career.

-Penn St. Abington defeated top-seeded SUNY Polytechnic in the other NEAC Semifinal and will play Morrisville State in the NEAC Final on Sunday in Utica, N.Y.