WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Junior forward
Gianna Pica recorded 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Drew University women's basketball team to a 67-63 victory at Lycoming College in Landmark Conference action Saturday afternoon.
The Rangers (5-2, 3-1 LC) trailed by four early in the fourth quarter before using a 10-1 run to take the lead for good.
It was the fifth straight 20-point game for Pica and her six in seven games.
Sophomore guard
Amy Rachilla added 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists while sophomore guard
Alice Altomare also scored 13 points while shooting 4-for-9 from 3-point range. Junior forward
Brenna Hezel contributed nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard
Miabella Diaz chipped in with six rebounds and five steals.
Ashley Yoh notched 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors (1-5, 1-3 LC).
The Rangers trailed 18-14 at the end of the first quarter, and Lycoming enjoyed its largest lead of the game at 27-22 with 5:41 remaining in the opening half. But that's when Drew got hot from the outside, starting with a 3-pointer from Rachilla that pulled the Rangers within two.
Altomare then took over for Drew, scoring the final 12 points of the half for the Rangers while shooting 4-for-5 from 3-point territory. Her final triple came at the buzzer and gave her team a 37-33 lead at the intermission.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the third quarter, and the Warriors led 49-48 heading into the final period. Lycoming led 55-51 with 8:27 left in the game, but that's when the Rangers went on their decisive run, which started with a jumper from Pica. Diaz then scored five straight points, draining a 3-pointer to tie it before nailing a go-ahead J that made it 58-56 with 6:04 remaining. Pica capped the surge with three straight points, and her free throw gave the Rangers a 61-56 advantage with 3:58 to go.
The Warriors edged to within three (63-60) with 1:57 remaining, but Rachilla shot 3-for-4 at the foul line over Drew's next two possession to hand Drew a six-point lead with 39 ticks showing. Lycoming hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left but was unable to get off another shot after fouling Hezel with one tick showing.
The Rangers are back in action next Saturday, when they host local rival FDU-Florham in a non-conference tilt starting at noon.