Box Score
GRANTHAM, PA – The Rowan University women’s basketball team defeated Lycoming College, 73-65 in overtime in the first round of the Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic. The classic is hosted by Messiah College.
In the other first round game on Friday, Pittsburgh-Greenburg meets Messiah at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Rowan plays Messiah at 3 p.m. Prior, Lycoming faces Pittsburgh-Greenburg at 1 p.m.
With 2:44 left in the game, Lycoming was ahead 63-60. Guard Gina Catanzariti (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) made the second of two fouls at 2:13. Forward Lauren Gregg (jr. Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) recorded the tying basket with 1:46 remaining for overtime.
The Profs started the overtime with six straight points that made the score 69-63 at 3:31. Gregg hit two baskets and Catanzariti had two free throws. Guard Ashley Russo (so. Lawrence, NJ/Lawrence) kept Rowan up by six (71-65) at 1:57 with a layup. Guard Lauren Creel (jr. Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) sealed the win with one foul shot at the 39 and 30 second marks for the final score.
Catanzariti ended the game with 16 points. Forward Brittany Baum (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and Creel each contributed with 13 points while Gregg added 10. Russo grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds.
For the Warriors, guard Chelsea Shearer (jr. Dallastown, PA/Dallastown Area) scored a game-high 17 points that included five three-pointers. Forward Rebecca Spencer (sr. Granville Summit, PA/Troy) registered 12 points and forward Kaitlyn Ober (sr. Lititz, PA/Warwick) followed with 11. Ober also pulled down eight boards. Guard Rachael Scheller (so. Sunbury, PA/Shikellamy) dished six assists.
Rowan started the second half with a six point advantage (31-25). Lycoming scored 10 straight points to go up 35-31 at 15:55. Shearer nailed three three-pointers and Spencer had a free throw in the run. The Profs tied the score at 37 with 13:21 left. Catanzariti made the tying jumper. Baum followed with two free throws that made the score 39-37. Lycoming tied it with a layup at 12:03 by guard/forward Julia Antonelli (fr. Hanover, PA/New Oxford).
Ober followed with a foul shot (11:33) and a layup (11:27) for a three point advantage (42-39). Creel pulled the Profs within one point (44-43) with a jumper at 10:24. Spencer’s jumper at 7:32 put the Warriors up 51-46. Baum hit a three (7:21) and Creel followed with a jumper (6:07) that tied the score at 51. Guard Christine Gannon (fr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) added a basket (5:07) for a two point lead (53-51). The score was tied one more time (53-53) before Gregg’s basket that sent the game into overtime. Shearer scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half.
The score was tied twice in the first period and there were three lead changes. Lycoming was ahead 5-0 at 18:22. Rowan registered 14 consecutive points to lead by nine (14-5) at 14:35. Catanzariti scored six points while Russo, Creel, Farrell and Gregg had two apiece. Scheller’s three at 12:13 cut the deficit to three points (14-11). The Profs were ahead 20-16 with 5:50 left after a foul shot by forward Erin Farrell (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee). The Warriors tied the score at 5:18 (20-20) and at 4:12 (25-25). Rowan then had three straight baskets to lead 31-25 at the intermission.
