Lancaster Bible posted its most impressive win of the season on Saturday, as the Chargers defeated Penn St. Harrisburg, 67-63 at Horst Athletic Center. The loss was the first of the season for the Lions in United East Conference play, as they fell to 11-7 overall and 8-1 in conference play, while the Chargers improved to 11-6 overall and 6-3 in conference action.
 
How it Happened: Penn St. Harrisburg controlled play through the first five minutes, as they forced the Chargers into turnovers and tough shots. A 3-pointer by Jenna Montana, followed by a pair of free throws by Sydney Hemler, gave the Lions an 11-2 lead 4:20 into the game. Lancaster Bible battled back in the second part of the opening frame, as a three-point play from sophomore Sydney Heller brought the Chargers to within three, 12-9 with under two minutes to play. The teams traded baskets and turnovers the rest of the quarter and the visitors led, 15-11 after 10 minutes of play.
 
Senior Adalyn Steiner scored the first seven points of the second quarter, as her turnaround jumper in the paint knotted the score at 15-15, and her 3-pointer on the Chargers' next possession gave Lancaster Bible its first lead at 18-15. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes, as junior Jenna Dombach's 3-pointer tied the game at 23-23 with under six minutes to play in the half. Lancaster Bible and Penn St. Harrisburg went back-and-forth the rest of the quarter, and the Lions executed a nice play to end the half, as Kendis Butler's layup with two seconds left gave Penn St. Harrisburg a 38-37 lead at the break.
 
Both teams had sloppy starts to open the third quarter as the Chargers and Lions traded turnovers. Steiner continued her strong game with a 3-pointer midway through the quarter, and Irene Were's layup in transition off a feed from Dombach tied the game at 45-45 with 2:30 left in the quarter. The Chargers used free throws from junior Shelby Gard and Steiner to take a 52-47 lead late in the quarter, but a 3-pointer from Bailey Oehmig with three seconds left trimmed Lancaster Bible's lead to 52-50 after 30 minutes of play.
 
Penn St. Harrisburg retook the lead early in the fourth quarter, before Steiner's jumper gave the Chargers a 54-53 lead with 7:35 remaining. After the Lions took a one-point lead, Gard drained a 3-pointer with 6:30 to play to restore Lancaster Bible's lead, 57-55. After a nice scoop-layup from Olivia Richardson gave the Lions a 60-57 lead, Dombach and Gard drained back-to-back 3-pointers on the Chargers' next two possessions to give Lancaster Bible a 63-60 lead. After an empty possession from the Lions, Steiner converted another layup to extend Lancaster Bible's lead to 65-60 with under 2:30 to play.
 
Lancaster Bible continued to lead late into the contest, as senior Mikayla Via knocked down 1-of-2 free throws to give the Chargers a 66-63 lead with 11.4 seconds to play. The Lions came up empty on their next possession, and Iwais hit 1-of-2 free throws to seal the win for the Chargers.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from the field, including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range…The Chargers also shot 19-of-26 from the free throw line…The Lions shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the floor, including 30 percent (6-of-20) from beyond the arc…Penn St. Harrisburg was 9-of-16 from the free throw line…Steiner posted a career-best 23 points and also added 12 rebounds…Were finished with 10 points and 14 boards, while Gard had 11 points, three steals, and two boards…Iwais had three points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Dombach had six points and four assists…Via did a little of everything with four points, four rebounds, and three blocks…Richardson led the Lions with 14 points.
 
Information to Know: Lancaster Bible is now 9-12 all-time against Penn St. Harrisburg…The Lions defeated the Chargers, 62-48 in Middletown, Pa. on January 17…Lancaster Bible is now 5-1 at Horst Athletic Center this season…Steiner's previous career high was 16 points, which she scored at Cazenovia during the 2020 season, as well as last weekend against SUNY Morrisville…Were's double-double was her third of the season.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible is back at home on Tuesday, when the Chargers host Gallaudet at 5 p.m.