The Lancaster Bible College women's basketball team continued its impressive play with a 66-62 hard-fought victory over Penn St. Harrisburg on Wednesday night at Horst Athletic Center. The win pulls the Chargers into a tie with Penn St. Harrisburg atop the North Eastern Athletic Conference South Division standings, as Lancaster Bible is now 8-11 overall and 6-4 (5-2 division) in NEAC play, while the Nittany Lions dropped to 9-10 overall and 7-3 (5-2 division) in NEAC play.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible dominated the first quarter, as the Chargers' defense held Penn St. Harrisburg to just three points. Lizzy Tilton and Jordyn Beers combined to score the first nine points for the Chargers, and two late free throws from Caitlin Hickey gave Lancaster Bible an 11-3 lead after one quarter of play.
 
The Chargers extended their lead to 10 early in the second quarter, but the Penn St. Harrisburg offense finally woke up, and Jayla Galbreath's 3-pointer with 5:15 to play in the first half cut the Chargers' lead to two, 18-16. Hickey finished the second quarter with a scoring flurry, and Lancaster Bible led, 26-20 at the break.
 
Penn St. Harrisburg cut into Lancaster Bible's lead more at the start of the third quarter, as the Chargers led just 26-25 forty seconds into the second half. Lancaster Bible withstood the run however, and used an 8-0 run later in the quarter to build a 37-27 lead after a jumper from Beers. The teams traded points the rest of the quarter, and two late free throws from Hickey after a technical foul, gave Lancaster Bible a 48-39 lead after 30 minutes of play.
 
Lancaster Bible's lead grew to 11 early in the fourth quarter, but Penn St. Harrisburg slowly chipped away, and trailed just 57-56 after a 3-pointer from Laurel Amey with 2:22 to play. Adalyn Steiner took a great pass from Beers on Lancaster Bible's next possession and led by three, and after another technical foul by Penn St. Harrisburg, Hickey knocked down one of two free throws, and then Beers hit a jumper on the ensuing possession to give the Chargers a 62-56 advantage.
 
The Nittany Lions wouldn't go away though, and again trailed by just two with 20 seconds to play after a layup from Amey. Hickey hit one of two free throws after she was fouled, and Penn St. Harrisburg couldn't close the gap any further.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the floor, including 4-of-15 from 3-point range…The Chargers were 18-of-26 from the free throw line…Penn St. Harrisburg show 29.7 percent (19-of-64) from the field, including 10-of-34 from beyond the arc…The Nittany Lions were 14-of-18 from the charity stripe…Hickey finished with 25 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists…Beers had 16 points and 14 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double…Tilton was the third player in double figures with 14 points, and she also added six rebounds and two assists…Mikayla Via chipped in with five points, three boards, and three assists…Jayla Galbreath had a team-best 22 points for the Nittany Lions.
 
The Coach Says: "I thought we were level-headed throughout a chaotic environment, and battled through foul trouble, and just grinded out a big win," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Katelyn Vanderhoff said. "Hickey is doing a great job leading this team, and players are playing free, and working hard. Jordyn Beers has stepped up, and was great on both ends of the floor tonight."
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 8-9 all-time against Penn St. Harrisburg…The Nittany Lions defeated Lancaster Bible, 61-58 on Jan. 17 in Middletown, Pa…The Chargers are now 5-4 at Horst Athletic Center this season…The victory over Penn St. Harrisburg is the first for the Chargers since Dec. 12, 2014 when Lancaster Bible defeated the Nittany Lions, 65-47 in Middletown…Hickey has scored 20 or more points in each of her past three games, and has eclipsed the 20-point mark seven times this season…Beers' 16 points are a career-best…Tilton has posted double figures in each of her past 10 games.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible hosts Gallaudet on Saturday night at a special 7 p.m. tip-off time.