CHESTER, PA – The Rowan University women's basketball team had its eight-game win streak come to an end on Saturday after a 76-71 loss at Widener University.
Rowan has an overall record of 8-1 and the Pride are 4-5. Guard
Anyssa Sanchez (so. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals. Guards
Bria Hill (sr. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) and
Kaitlin Schullstrom (jr. Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) each recorded 10 points. Forward
Melissa Lake (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and guard
Valerie Garofalo (so. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) produced eight and seven points respectively. Center
Kate Matthews (jr. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) registered eight rebounds and guard
Ashanti Bishop (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) had seven.
For Widener, guards Julia Venturelli (fr. Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) and Kristina Reiter (sr. Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) produced 15 points apiece. Guard Allison Gallagher (fr. Souderton, PA/Souderton) added 14 points. Forward/center Courtney Colella (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) accumulated 13 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Ally Ferrucci (jr. Vineland, NJ/Sacred Heart) dished out 10 assists and had seven points.
Sanchez started the game with a layup (18:49) then Widener scored seven straight points for a 7-2 lead (17:29). Venturelli, Gallagher and Colella each scored a basket, while Ferrucci hit a free throw. Hill's layup made the score 9-7 with 15:17 to play. A 10-3 run gave the Pride a 19-10 advantage at the 9:18 mark. Gallagher and Reiter each tallied three points. A layup by Venturelli expanded the lead to 11 (23-12) with 7:32 remaining. Rowan then used a 14-4 spurt to get to within one point (27-26) with 2:05 on the clock. Schullstrom produced six points, Hill had five points and Lake chipped in with three. Widener tallied the final four points of the half for a 31-26 lead at intermission. Gallagher, Sanchez and Hill each recorded seven points to lead all scorers.
In the second stanza, Matthews tied the game at 35 (17:02) with a basket. Widener scored the next eight points to make the score 43-35 at the 14:42 mark. Reiter had five of the eight points. Rowan responded with 11 unanswered points, including six from Sanchez, to go ahead 46-43 (12:05). The Profs led 50-44 (11:10) after a Sanchez layup. Garofalo's basket made the score 52-48 (10:38), but Widener scored eight straight points for a 56-52 advantage (8:20). Collella's two free throws gave the Pride a 63-58 lead (5:56). Ferrucci converted two foul shots, making the score 70-62 at the 3:28 mark.
Rowan drew to within one point (70-69) with 36 seconds remaining after a three-pointer and layup by Garofalo and a basket by Sanchez. Ferrucci then made two free throws (72-69) with 35 seconds left. Lake hit a jumper to cut it to 72-71 (0:26), then four straight free throws by the Pride, two by Venturelli (0:15) and two by Reiter (0:01), making the final score 76-71.
Next, Rowan travels to St. Petersburg, FL for the St. Pete Classic. The Profs face Berry College on Friday, December 19 at 5 p.m.
