Roukas Nets Career High against Widener

Box Score
GLENSIDE, Pa.: First year Victoria Roukas shot 10 of 16 from the floor and drained all 8 free throw attempts for a career-high of 28 points but it wouldn't be enough to help the Knights in tonight's 62-73 setback against visiting Widener University.

The Pride improve to 7-3 in the Commonwealth and 15-7 overall, eyeing up a very viable spot in this season's conference championship tournament with three games remaining in the regular season. Arcadia drops to 3-18 overall and without a league win through 11 tries.

Four players scoring double-digits highlighted the Pride's success with Lindsay Pepino leading the way on 6 for 8 from the floor, 4 of 5 at the line, for 16 points along with 8 rebounds. Vanessa Hejnas netted 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, Francesca Lee scored a dozen and added 9 boards with Lil Carney scoring 11 points, 3 shots made from downtown, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Aside from Roukas' 28 (she also added in 6 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal), senior Christine Taylor scored 14, hauled in 6 boards, dished 3 assists and added 1 block and 1 steal for the Knights. Sophomore Victoria Mazzeo contributed 9 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists and junior Angie Adams finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists.

Arcadia went 2 of 3 at the line in the opening two minutes but would finish the half 4 of 11 from the foul line. Widener rolled out a 9-2 run to take a 13-5 lead on a three pointer from Carney at 15:28. The three by Carney was immediately answered with one by Adams for Arcadia at 15:13, the Knights down just 5 (8-13). Two from Roukas in the lane at 14:24 cut the home squad's deficit to 3 (10-13) but the Knight's failed to stop Pepino over the next five minutes, allowing her 5 straight points to put the Pride back up by 7 (17-10) with 9:43 to go in the half.

A three pointer from league player of the week Jennifer Egee and 6 more straight from Pepino allowed the Pride a 12 point spread (28-16). Taylor watched her three-point attempt at 6:37 rattle home to cut the Knights deficit back to 9 (19-28) but that turned out to be Arcadia's final bucket from the field in the first half as the Pride took a 15 point lead into the locker room. Widener's bech out-scored Arcadia's 13-0 in the half and added 10 points from Arcadia's turnovers.

Despite the Pride's early second half foul troubles, they still retained a 15 point lead after five minutes in. Arcadia's best free-throw shooting of the game came during the next five minute spurt, where they sank 9 of 12 but the Pride refused to let up on their offense and took a twenty point lead with 10:44 remaining. Although the Knights showed a gritty performance over the final ten minutes, Arcadia was only able to cut their deficit to 11 by the end of regulation.

While the Knights gained the slight shooting edge 45.7% to Widener's 37%, neither team could find their rhythm at the charity stripe. Arcadia made just 17 of their 36 attempts, Widener, just 8 of 18. The Pride earned the rebounding advantage 55-50, taking control of 24 offensive rebounds to Arcadia's 13.

Tonight's game 'Day for David' was played in memory of David Heard, who lost a two-year battle with Neuroblastoma last February at the age of ten. The Knights helped the St. Baldrick's Pediatric Cancer Foundation, along with David's mother Susan, who courageously addressed this evening's crowd, in an attempt to raise both awareness and funding for a cure for the childhood cancer. Fans can continue to make donations to St. Baldrick's here.

Arcadia now moves on with their remaining three games, preparing to host Messiah College in Commonwealth play, this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Kuch Center.

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