The Lancaster Bible College women's basketball team wrapped up its 2021 season with a dramatic last-second victory on Saturday evening at Horst Athletic Center, as freshman Faith Hammond drained a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play. The Chargers finish the condensed season with an overall record of 6-5, while the Lions are now 0-4.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible and Bryn Athyn exchanged points early in the first quarter, and freshman Faith Hammond's jumper with 5:23 to play in the quarter knotted the score at 7-7. Bryn Athyn's offense heated up in the latter stages of the first quarter, and the Lions used a 12-2 run to build a 10-point later after a layup from Jayda Campbell.
 
After trailing by eight after the first quarter, the Chargers cut their deficit to five, 19-14, after a 3-pointer from Jenna Dombach. Bryn Athyn matched the run, and then took a 25-10 lead on a layup in transition from Aida Berry. The teams traded baskets for two minutes, before Dombach hit a 3-pointer to cut the Lions' lead to 30-25 with 3:09 remaining. Neither team scored in the final three minutes, and Bryn Athyn led by five at the break.
 
After Lancaster Bible trimmed their deficit to one, Bryn Athyn rebuilt its five-point edge at 34-29. Bryn Athyn continued to build its advantage, and took a 43-34 lead after a 3-pointer from Berry, but two late free throws from Hammond cut the Chargers' deficit to 43-36 after 30 minutes of play.
 
The Chargers opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run, as Dombach drained two more 3-pointers, and Adalyn Steiner hit a free throw to make it 43-43 with 7:47 to play. After the teams traded baskets, Bryn Athyn took a 48-45 lead on a layup by Berry, but Lizzy Tilton hit a 3-pointer with 3:59 to play to knot the score at 48-48. Bryn Athyn scored on its next possession, but Tilton drained another triple the next time down the floor and gave Lancaster Bible a 51-50 advantage.
 
The game continued to go back-and-forth down the stretch, and Lancaster Bible took a 57-55 lead on a layup from Dombach with 1:01 to play. Clayshonia Cogmon, Bryn Athyn's best player on Saturday night, tied the game at 57-57 with 44 seconds to play, and after a turnover by each team, Lancaster Bible came out of a timeout with 22.5 seconds to play and the shot clock turned off.
 
After waiting to start the play as time ran down, the ball eventually found the hands of Hammond, and she drained a corner 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play. Bryn Athyn couldn't get a shot off in the final second, and the Chargers ended their season with a win.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from the field, including 50 percent (9-of-18) from 3-point range…Bryn Athyn shot 33.8 percent (23-of-68) from the floor, but just 13.6 percent (3-of-22) from beyond the arc…Bryn Athyn held a 44-34 advantage on the glass, including a 19-8 advantage on the offensive boards…Dombach led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and she was also 5-of-8 from 3-point range…Tilton had 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals…Hammond finished with 10 points, while Steiner added nine points, six rebounds, and six assists…Paige Town had eight points and five boards, while Jordyn Beers had two points and four boards…Cogmon had 15 points and a game-high 22 rebounds.
 
The Coach Says: "It's hard enough to beat a team three times in one season, let alone four times," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Joy Tharrington said. "This was about us finishing well, and having the heart to do it, and we did it tonight. I'm so proud of the team, and we finished well."
 
On the team's season: "We exceeded a lot of expectations, and we have built a solid foundation," Tharrington said. "We played six games over the past nine days, and we went 5-1 in that stretch. We fought through trials, and continued to push, and I'm excited to see where this group can go."
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 11-1 all-time against Bryn Athyn…The Chargers finished the season with a 4-0 record against the Lions…Lancaster Bible outscored its opponents 318-272 in the second and third quarters of games this season…Lancaster Bible's 50 percent shooting from 3-point range was a season-high…Lancaster Bible held its opponent under 60 points in eight of 11 games this season.