Women’s Basketball Knocked Off By Chargers in NEAC Semifinals

LANCASTER, Pa. – Junior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) posted a team-leading 28 points, but the Wells College women's basketball team posted a 69-50 loss to the Chargers of Lancaster Bible College in the North Eastern Athletic Conference semifinal game Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Express see their season come to a close with a 13-13 overall record alongside a mark of 11-6 against league opponents. Lancaster Bible (22-4, 16-2 NEAC) faces-off against the Storm of Keuka College Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Outside of Roser, the other four members of the "starting five" for Wells shot a combined 2-for-28 from the floor. Cumulatively, the Express shot only 27.1% (16-for-59) as opposed to the Chargers' mark of 44.1% (26-of-59). Roser secured 20 rebounds for Wells, leading the team in that category. Freshman Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) posted team-highs in both assists (4) and steals (3). As a team, the Express set a program record for their performance from the free throw line, burying 15-of-16 of their charity stripe opportunities.

Wells, in only their third year as a varsity program, concludes their season with program records in overall victories (13), conference victories (11), longest winning streak (4 games, 1/19/13 through 1/26/13), most home victories (6) and most road victories (7). The team also rewrote virtually every offensive record, scoring 1,680 points through 27 games during the regular season. The Express also posted their first playoff victory earlier this week, defeating the Wildcats of SUNY Institute of Technology by an 82-80 mark on Tuesday.

The Express never secured a lead in the game as Lauren Heliger's jumper placed the Chargers up by two points only 38 seconds into the contest. From there, a Roser jumper knotted the score with 18:51 remaining, but the hosts went on an eight point run from there to take a commanding 10-2 lead with 14:33 remaining in the first.

A three-pointer by Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) with 10:38 remaining in the second cut the deficit to 18-16, but from there, the Chargers scored 12 straight points to once again keep the Express at great distance. After Aubrey Folger buried both free throws with 8:23 remaining in regulation time following a Roser foul, the Chargers secured an afternoon-high 25 point lead on Wells. Lancaster Bible scored 42 of their 69 points from the paint, including 24 off of Express turnovers. The Chargers also utilized 16 fast break points to their advantage while the Express were held scoreless on the fast break.

The Express kept pace with the Chargers cumulatively in the second half as each team was able to score 31 second half points, but the sluggish offensive start from the Express stifled any chance of a comeback in the late stages of the game.

Folger led the way with 24 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the field. Heliger's 20 points ranked second on the team while Brooklyn Wilson chipped in with five assists. Sarah Heilenman's four steals led the way for Lancaster Bible.

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