The Lancaster Bible College women's basketball team returned to North Eastern Athletic Conference action on Saturday, and suffered a 64-57 loss to Keuka at Horst Athletic Center. The loss drops the Chargers to 2-9 overall, and 0-2 in NEAC play, while the Wolves improved to 5-4 overall, and 1-1 in conference action.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible jumped out to a 6-0 lead on Saturday, as Alaysha Iwais wrapped two baskets around a bucket from Caitlin Hickey. Lizzy Tilton and Hope Hodges had 3-pointers later in the quarter to give the Chargers a 12-6 lead midway through the opening frame, but Keuka's defense improved during the second part of the first quarter, and the Chargers led just 15-14 after 10 minutes.
 
Keuka took its first lead of the contest in the first minute of the second quarter, and eventually stretched its lead to 10, as the Chargers went over 10 minutes of game time between field goals. The Chargers hung around enough in the second quarter to trail by eight, 25-17, at the break.
 
Lancaster Bible trailed by as many as 11 early in the third quarter, but two straight baskets from Lizzy Tilton, and a layup from Paige Towne cut the Chargers deficit to five, 36-31 just 2:36 into the second half. The Chargers couldn't slice into the lead any further, and trailed, 47-39 at the end of three quarters.
 
The Chargers shrunk the deficit to five early in the final quarter, as Mikayla Via drained a big 3-pointer to make it a 49-44 Keuka advantage. The Wolves battled again though and increased the lead to double-digits yet again midway through the fourth quarter. Lancaster Bible made one more run, and two made free throws from Via with 1:22 to play made it a one possession game, as the Chargers trailed just 58-55. Keuka scored on its next possession however, and Lancaster Bible followed with a turnover, effectively ending the contest.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the floor, but just 5-of-17 from 3-point range…Keuka shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the field, and 5-of-16 from beyond the arc…Hickey led all scorers with 20 points, and also added four assists and two blocks…Tilton played another solid all-around game, scoring 12 points, and adding five assists and three boards…Towne played one of her best games of the season with nine points and seven rebounds…Via added five points and two rebounds…Sam Laranjo and Riley Record each had 18 points for the Wolves.
 
The Coach Says: "I like the way our younger players performed today," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Katelyn Vanderhoff said. "Our upperclassmen are leading well, and the more experience our younger players get, the more confident they are as players. Our freshmen and sophomores are contributing more and more, and that will bode well for us the rest of the season."
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 8-3 all-time against Keuka…The Chargers defeated the Wolves, 55-51 last season in Keuka Park, N.Y., earning an upset win late in the season…Lancaster Bible is 1-3 at home this season…The 42.9 shooting percentage for the Chargers on Saturday was a season-high, as was the 83.3 free throw shooting percentage (10-of-12)…Saturday marked the sixth time this season the Chargers have had double-digit assists in a game.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible is right back on the court on Sunday, as the Chargers host Wells at 2 p.m.