The Lancaster Bible College Women's Basketball team has experienced its share of highs and lows during the 2023-24 season and will use those experiences as they enter the 2024 United East Conference Championship tournament. Entering the postseason as the fifth seed with a 6-6 conference record, the Chargers will travel to four-seeded St. Mary's (Md.) on Saturday, February 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Season in Review: Beginning just 1-8 overall to open the year, the Chargers began to improve steadily as they put together two important spurts of three wins each in conference. With the conclusion of the regular season, the Chargers sit 8-16 overall and 6-6 in conference. In the past month, the Chargers have beat St. Mary's (Md.) in overtime, Penn College at their place, Penn St. Berks, and played Penn St. Harrisburg tough on Senior Night. Playing their best basketball at the right time, the Chargers will look to carry that momentum into this weekend.
Look Back at Past Matchups with St. Mary's (Md.): The past two matchups with St. Mary's (Md.) have gone as you expect a four-seed and five-seed matchup. In their first matchup of the season early in the year, the Chargers led the Seahawks at halftime 38-23. The Chargers did their best to keep the Seahawks at bay, keeping the lead all the way up until the last minute of the game. Two key three-pointers with just a minute left put the Seahawks up by three as they went on to win matchup number one 73-69.
Matchup number two was much of the same script as the Chargers led at halftime 30-19. Keeping the lead for almost the entirety of the game, the Seahawks kept chipping away getting a layup to go with two seconds left to send the game to overtime 63-63. Not letting this one get away from them, the Chargers went on a 10-0 run in overtime to win 73-63.
"St. Mary's is a tough opponent who we split with in the regular season and both games were tight with one going into overtime so it should be a fun matchup," said Head Coach
Ryan Carpenter.
"We feel that even though we are the road team and lower seed we have just as good a chance of beating them as they do of beating us."
Hear from Head Coach Ryan Carpenter: "We are excited to earn a conference tournament berth in year one. There is no better feeling in the world than post season basketball and the thrill of survive and advance!"
Layout of the Land
Volt Division Skye Division
No. 1 - Penn St. Harrisburg No. 1 – Notre Dame of Maryland
No. 2 – Gallaudet No. 2 – Saint Elizabeth
No. 3 – Penn St. Abington No. 3 – Bryn Athyn
No. 4 - St. Mary's College No. 4 – Wilson
No. 5 – Lancaster Bible No. 5 - Cairn
No. 6 – Penn College No. 6 – Cedar Crest
Tournament Schedule
Saturday, February 17 DIVISION Teams
Divisional First Round Skye #6 Cedar Crest at #3 Bryn Athyn
Divisional First Round Skye #5 Cairn at #4 Wilson
Divisional First Round Volt #6 Penn College at #3 Penn St. Abington
Divisional First Round Volt #5 Lancaster Bible at #4 St. Mary's (Md.)
Monday, February 19 DIVISION Teams
Divisional Semi-Final Skye Lowest Remaining Seed at #1 Notre Dame of Maryland
Divisional Semi-Final Skye Highest Remaining Seed at #2 Saint Elizabeth
Divisional Semi-Final Volt Lowest Remaining Seed at #1 Penn St. Harrisburg
Divisional Semi-Final Volt Highest Remaining Seed at #2 Gallaudet
Wednesday, February 21 DIVISION Teams
Divisional Final Skye Lowest Remaining Seed at Highest Remaining Seed
Divisional Final Volt Lowest Remaining Seed at Highest Remaining Seed
Saturday, February 24
Championship Hosted by Skye Division Champion
United East Championship Preview Article
