The Lancaster Bible College women's basketball team saw its three-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday evening, as the Chargers lost to Penn St. Harrisburg, 62-48 in Middletown, Pa. The loss drops the Chargers to 9-4 overall this season and 4-1 in United East Conference play, while the Lions improve to 8-6 overall and 5-0 in conference action. 

How it Happened: Lancaster Bible jumped out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to a 3-pointer from Mikayla Via, a free throw by Jade Eshelman, and a bucket from Jenna Dombach. Penn St. Harrisburg got on the board just prior to the 8-minute mark, but a 3-pointer by Alaysha Iwais two minutes later gave the Chargers a 9-2 lead with 6:39 remaining in the quarter. After the teams traded baskets for the next couple of minutes, the Lions ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, and the Chargers led just 20-19 after 10 minutes of play.

The second quarter belonged to Penn St. Harrisburg, as the Chargers didn't score over the first 3:45 of the quarter. Neither team could do much offensively, but Lancaster Bible managed just one basket the entire quarter and trailed, 30-23 at the break.

Senior Adalyn Steiner got the Chargers started off on the right foot in the second half, as she converted a three-point play 17 seconds into the quarter to cut the Chargers' deficit to 30-26. Both offenses stayed relatively cold in the third quarter, but a 3-pointer from Shelby Gard brought Lancaster Bible to within three, 34-31 with 5:27 to play in the third quarter. Penn St. Harrisburg finally began converting baskets and used a 9-0 run to build a 43-31 lead late in the quarter. The Chargers wouldn't go away however, and a basket by Irene Were, followed by five straight points from Via, cut Lancaster Bible's deficit to 43-38 after 30 minutes.

It took nearly three minutes for Lancaster Bible to score in the fourth quarter, but Steiner's layup with 7:06 remaining brought the Chargers to within seven, 47-40. Via drained another 3-pointer on Lancaster Bible's next possession to make it 47-43, but the Chargers wouldn't get any closer and another scoring drought over the final 2:48 ended any hope of a comeback.

By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the field, including 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from 3-point range...The Chargers were just 4-of-7 from the free throw line...Penn St. Harrisburg shot 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the floor, including 16 percent (4-of-25) from beyond the arc...The Lions were 12-of-18 from the free throw line...Steiner led the Chargers with 12 points, six rebounds, and three rebounds...Via added 11 points and three boards, while Eshelman had nine points and seven rebounds...Iwais chipped in with six points, seven rebounds, and six assists...Four different players had 10 points for Penn St. Harrisburg, including Kendis Butler who had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Coach Says: "We knew coming into tonight's game that handling Penn St. Harrisburg's pressure would be a key and unfortunately our ability to do so was the glaring different in the game," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Joy Tharrington said. "We also didn't do our job on the boards, giving up 16 on the offensive glass. Despite those things, I was proud of our effort on the defensive side of the ball, as we defended the 3-point line and many of their half-court sets well. Our girls fought hard for 40 minutes."

Information to Know: Lancaster Bible is now 8-12 all-time against Penn St. Harrisburg...The Lions took both games from the Chargers last season, as they defeated Lancaster Bible, 82-72 in Middletown and 63-58 at Horst Athletic Center...Tuesday marked the third time this season the Chargers have had nine free throw attempts or less...Tuesday was also the fifth time this season Lancaster Bible has been out-rebounded, and the Chargers are 1-4 in those contests.

Up Next: Lancaster Bible returns to the floor this Friday and Saturday when the Chargers host SUNY Morrisville and Wells...The Chargers and Mustangs are scheduled to tip-off on Friday at 5 p.m.