The win improved Delaware Valley to 11-9 overall and 6-4 in the Freedom Conference. The Aggies now have a 1 ½ game lead over the Lady Warriors (12-8, 4-5) for the fourth and the final playoff spot in the conference with four games remaining. The two teams have now split their games this year (Lycoming won in Williamsport in January) and the Aggies have a key victory over second-place DeSales in their back pocket should a tiebreaker come into effect.
Jackie Hartzell hit a 3-pointer on the game’s opening possession and Delaware Valley never trailed the rest of the way. The Aggies upped their advantage to 11-2 five minutes into the contest.
Lycoming answered with an 8-2 run to make it a 13-10 ballgame, but the Aggies came right back with nine straight, including five by Shannon McCormick, for a 12-point advantage. They would later a 39-28 lead into halftime.
Delaware Valley built the lead to as many as 18, 55-37, in the second half and the Lady Warriors could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way. Lycoming was still down 10 with 1:03 remaining and the Aggies sealed the deal by going 5-for-6 from the foul line in next eight seconds.
Hartzell led all scorers with 19 points while also adding four rebounds, four steals and three assists. Golden recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 16 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. The junior also moved into a tie for third place on the Delaware Valley all-time rebounding list with 644 boards.
Freshman Rachel Joyce added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win while McCormick had 11 points and six boards.
Sabrina Catrambone was the lone Lycoming player to reach double figures as he finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Mindy Culp and Emily DiMarco added nine points apiece.