The Lancaster Bible College Women's Basketball team began United East competition on Wednesday evening as they hosted Cedar Crest, securing a 67-57 victory for their third straight win. The Chargers improve to 3-7 overall and 1-0 in conference while the Falcons drop to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in conference.
 
How it Happened:
Freshman Emily Wilson got the Chargers started with a jump shot, then a made 3-pointer by sophomore Shania Stoltzfus helped push the early LBC lead to 7-2. Cedar Crest fought back with five in a row to take the lead, then Wilson had another basket to get the lead back. With the score tied at 13, junior Isabella Eufemia knocked down a three, then Eufemia had a pull-up that was good as the Chargers took an 18-13 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Chargers were held without a point for the first four minutes and change of the second period, with Cedar Crest scoring seven straight points before freshman Emma Christner ended the run. The game was tied again at 22 when the Falcons pulled ahead, then junior Rachel Nolt knocked down a three to put LBC back in front 25-24. The Falcons ended the half with eight of the final ten points, hitting two big threes to carry their largest lead of the game at six points into the halftime break up 34-28.
 
Nolt and Eufemia scored to get the Chargers within two in the first minute of the third quarter, then Stoltzfus hit a pair of threes to make it a 42-40 game with six minutes to go. The Chargers then exploded for a run of 12 straight points over the next five minutes as Nolt scored eight on the run with a pair of 3-pointers, with freshman Miriam Spender ending the period with a layup to help LBC carry an 11-point lead into the fourth.
 
The Falcons started hot in the fourth quarter as they pulled within eight points at the seven-minute mark, but the Chargers responded with six in a row with another three from Stoltzfus to go up 14 points. Cedar Crest went on another run to try and cut into the lead as they cut it to seven, but some free throws from the Chargers helped stave off the comeback as they took a 67-57 victory in their first United East game of the season, making it three straight wins for Lancaster Bible.
 
By the Numbers:
- The Chargers shot 38-percent from the floor, 39-percent from 3-point range, and 60-percent from the free throw line
- The Falcons shot 42-percent from the floor, 25-percent from three, and 46-percent on free throws
- Rachel Nolt led the Chargers with a season-high 23 points and six rebounds
- Shania Stoltzfus netted a career-high 17 points with four 3-point makes, adding six boards as well
- Isabella Eufemia and Emily Wilson each added nine points
- The Falcons were led by Samora Merchant with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds

Information to Know:
The Chargers are now 2-4 all-time against Cedar Crest and have their first win over the Falcons since 2011. The Chargers have won their United East opener for the first time since the 2022-23 season and have their first three-game win streak since November 15-19 of 2024. In addition, the Chargers have three straight home wins for the first time since January 16-February 5 of last season.
 
Up Next:
The Chargers are on the road on Saturday, December 6 as they travel to Reading, Pa. to take on Penn St. Berks in United East play at 3:00 p.m.