The Lancaster Bible College women's basketball team ended its regular season with a tough, 69-61 loss to SUNY Cobleskill in Cobleskill, N.Y. on Saturday, and the Chargers will now get set for the North Eastern Athletic Conference postseason. The loss drops the Chargers to 12-13 overall this season and 10-6 in NEAC play, while the Fighting Tigers improved to 12-13 overall and 7-9 in conference play. The victory also clinches a conference playoff berth for the Fighting Tigers.
 
How it Happened: SUNY Cobleskill opened the game with an 11-4 run, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Mikayla Via brought the Chargers to within one, and Lizzy Tilton gave Lancaster Bible a 12-11 lead with 4:47 to go. Caitlin Hickey capped the 10-0 run with a layup 23 seconds later, and Lancaster Bible led, 17-15 after 10 minutes of play.
 
SUNY Cobleskill re-took a small lead early in the second quarter, but Lancaster Bible tied it twice, including at 25-25 after a 3-pointer from Hope Hodges with 4:28 remaining in the half. Lancaster Bible didn't score over the final 2:20 of the second quarter, and the Chargers trailed, 34-28 at the break.
 
The Fighting Tigers opened the third quarter on a 12-4 run, and led 46-32 with six minutes to play in the third frame after two free throws from Tylysa Martinez. Those would be the last points of the quarter for SUNY Cobleskill though, as the Lancaster Bible defense clamped down, and the Chargers outscored the Fighting Tigers, 11-0 the rest of the frame. Jordyn Beers brought the Chargers to within in four late in the quarter, and Hodges hit one of two free throws with under a minute to go, and the Chargers trailed, 46-43 entering the fourth quarter.
 
SUNY Cobleskill took a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Lancaster Bible cut it back to three with 7:03 remaining on a jumper by Via. The Fighting Tigers answered with a 3-pointer, and the Chargers were never within five again, as SUNY Cobleskill expanded its lead throughout the final quarter, and won by eight.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the floor on Saturday, including 6-of-22 from 3-point range…SUNY Cobleskill shot 32.3 percent (21-of-65), including 7-of-19 from 3-point range…The Fighting Tigers were also 20-of-31 from the free throw line, while the Chargers were just 9-of-14…Via led the Chargers with 19 points, while Christine Graves had 11 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks…Hickey added nine points and seven boards, while Hope Hodges had 10 points and five rebounds…Tilton finished with six points, five assists, and four rebounds…Four Lancaster Bible players fouled out of Saturday's game…Anna Post led four SUNY Cobleskill players with 15 points.
 
The Coach Says: "I thought Cobleskill outworked and outplayed us today," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Katelyn Vanderhoff said. "Their bigs inside were tough to handle, and we didn't do well on the boards. We need to learn from both these games this weekend, and make adjustments as we head into the playoffs."
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 6-2 all-time against SUNY Cobleskill…The Fighting Tigers defeated Lancaster Bible, 76-67 in double overtime last season in Lancaster, Pa…The Chargers are now 5-8 on the road this season…Six Lancaster Bible players appeared in all 25 regular season games, including Hickey and Tilton who started each of the 25 games as well…Lancaster Bible 26 personal fouls were a season-high…The Chargers had 41 or more rebounds for the fourth time in five games.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible earned a bye to the NEAC Semifinals thanks to winning the NEAC South Division, and the Chargers will face either Morrisville State or SUNY Cobleskill in the NEAC Semifinals next Saturday in Utica, N.Y…The Chargers lost to both teams during the regular season, and the Mustangs and Fighting Tigers will play Tuesday night in Morrisville, N.Y.