The #7-seed Lancaster Bible College Women's Basketball team hosted their United East First Round game on Wednesday night against #10-seed Gallaudet, winning a close game 68-63 and advancing to the Quarterfinal round. The Chargers improve to 11-15 overall and 8-5 in conference while the Bison finish their season at 6-17 overall and a 4-9 conference record.
 
How it Happened:
Raven Hunter (Sr.) scored on the first possession to get the Chargers going, then after a Gallaudet answer Shania Stoltzfus (So.) knocked down a 3-pointer for an early 5-2 lead. Isabella Eufemia (Jr.) then scored the next eight points for the Chargers with two threes as the Chargers stayed ahead, then the Bison swung ahead by two before Stoltzfus hit another three to give LBC back their lead. This started a run of eight points by the Chargers capped with an and-one layup by Eufemia, leading to a 23-19 lead after one quarter of play.
 
Rachel Nolt (Jr.) started the Chargers in the second with a jumper, then Gallaudet went on a run of six points to squeak ahead by one before a layup by Hunter. The Chargers closed on a tear as they scored the final 12 points of the half, with Stoltzfus hitting back-to-back threes and Eufemia finishing the half on a pair of free throws to take a double-digit lead into halftime at 38-27.
 
The Bison controlled the second half early as they scored the first eight points of the third quarter, holding LBC off the board for over three minutes before Stoltzfus ended the drought with another three. Gallaudet answered with six more in a row to tie the game at 41-41, but Eufemia knocked down a three later to get the LBC lead back to four. Emily Wilson had a jumper late in the quarter, but the Bison scored the final five points as they grabbed a one-point lead heading into the final period at 48-47.
 
Hunter put the Chargers back on top to start the fourth, then the Bison drilled a three for their largest lead of the game at two points. Nolt then hit a jumper to tie the game, then Stoltzfus hit another three to put LBC back on top, followed by a heat-check three on the next possession to ignite the crowd and put the Chargers up 57-53 with under six to play. Nolt got another shot to fall about a minute later to cap an eight-point scoring run, then over the next two minutes Hunter made a pair of layups to keep LBC in front. Free throws from Stoltzfus and Eufemia sealed the game late as the Chargers escaped with a five-point victory for their first postseason win in nine years.
 
By the Numbers:
- The Chargers shot 36-percent from the floor, 36-percent from 3-point range, and 47-percent from the free throw line
- The Bison shot 42-percent from the floor, 29-percent from three, and 78-percent on free throws
- Shania Stoltzfus led the Chargers with a career-high 23 points and seven made 3-pointers on 7-8 from deep
- Isabella Eufemia added 18 points and five assists
- Raven Hunter had 13 points on 6-7 from the field with nine rebounds and four blocks
- Rachel Nolt posted her eighth double-double of the year with 10 points and 13 rebounds
- The Bison were led by Natalie Greene with 23 points and nine rebounds

Information to Know:
This is the Chargers' first postseason victory since the 2016-17 season, ending a drought of seven consecutive seasons without a playoff win. The Chargers are now 18-8 all-time against Gallaudet and ended a four-game skid against the Bison, including a loss to the Bison on January 13 on the road in the regular season. The Chargers have exceeded their win total from last season as they improve to 11-15 overall. Shania Stoltzfus' 23 points were the most by a Charger in the postseason since Caitlin Hickey in the 2017 NEAC Quarterfinals and her seven made threes marks a program record for the conference playoffs. Rachel Nolt recorded her second career playoff double-double with 10 points and 13 boards, her first coming in the 2024 United East Volt First Round at St. Mary's (Md.) where she posted 19 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Up Next:
The Chargers have advanced to the United East Quarterfinals on Saturday, February 21 as they will take on #2-seed Penn College on the road in Williamsport, Pa. at 1:00 p.m.