ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A big second quarter was the difference Saturday for the Widener College women’s basketball team as the Pride defeated Lawrence University 71-52 at the St. Pete Classic.
Widener (4-6) outscored the Vikings (2-5) by 14 points in the second quarter to build a 40-26 lead at the half in the game at Eckerd College. Lawrence cut the margin to 10 points in the third quarter but couldn’t get any closer.
Leah Reeves scored a career-high 24 points and shot 10-for-18 from the floor to lead the Vikings. Reeves’ previous best was nine points earlier this season in a win over Marian. Olivia Hoesley added 16 points and seven rebounds for Lawrence.
Rookie guard Shonell Benjamin pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds, and Natalie Kramer handed out six assists to go with seven points for the Vikings.
Devan Rimmer had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds to pace Widener.
The teams were tied at 15-15 after the first quarter, and a Hoesley layup and Kramer free throw trimmed Widener’s lead to 25-24 with 3:46 left in the second quarter. The Pride then went on a 15-2 run as Allison Gallagher scored five points to spark Widener to the 40-26 lead at the half.
Lawrence cut the lead to 44-34 on Kramer’s 3-pointer in the third quarter, but Widener responded. The Pride scored 10 of the game’s next 11 points to grab a 54-35 advantage. Lawrence didn’t get closer than 14 points the rest of the way.
The Vikings return to action on Sunday then Lawrence takes on Randolph College.