Widener wins first MAC Commonwealth title in 14 years

The partisan Alvernia crowd did everything it could to rattle Widener’s Pat Holden and Dominic Dunn as they stepped to the free throw line in the final minute and the MAC Commonwealth championship at stake Saturday night.

They yelled, clapped, waved their hands and did everything they could to distract Holden and Dunn.

It didn’t work.

Holden and Dunn went a combined 5-for-6 from the foul line in the 29 seconds to help secondseeded Widener win its first conference title since 2008-09 with a 74-69 victory over the top-seeded Wolves. Holden went 3-for-4 and Dunn was 2-for-2 to help the Pride punch its ticket to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Kenny Lewis and Kevin Schenk paced Widener with 16 points each. Lewis also pulled down eight rebounds. Dunn had a monster game with 15 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots. Holden added 12 points and six assists for the

Pride (18-9).

MARYMOUNT 57, NEUMANN 52 » The Saints connected on six consecutive free throws in the final 52 seconds to hold off the Knights and win the Atlantic East Conference championship.

Montell Cooper hit the final four free throws to seal the victory. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Rashawn Cook also scored 13 points for Marymount (17-10). Ryan Starr of Neumann (20-7) led all scorers with 17 points. Jalen Vaughns and Tony James both posted double-doubles. Vaughns collected 13 points and 16 rebounds while James had 11 points and 12 boards before fouling out.

PENN 89, DARTMOUTH 79 » The Quakers will play Princeton for the Ivy League regular-season title after knocking off the Big Green and the Tigers’ win over Harvard.

Jordan Dingle paced Penn with a game-high 27 points. Max Martz added 18 points. Clark Slajchert

pitched in with 17 and Lucas Monroe posted a doubledouble with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

GEORGE WASHINGTON 92, LA SALLE 85 » The Explorers have six players in double figures but it wasn’t enough against the Colonials.

Fousseyni Drame and Daeshon Shepherd tallied 14 points each for La Salle. Josh Nickelberry added 12. Khalil Branley had 12 and Hassan Drame and Rokas Jocius 10 apiece.

James Bishop topped GW with a game-high 29 points.

Women’s Basektball

Gianna Rullo scored 19 points off the bench as Cabrini battled on the road in the Atlantic East final, but they fell short of top-seeded Marymount in the tournament final, 53-49. Miranda Leibtag had 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks for the Cavaliers (14-4). LA SALLE 55, VCU 51» Claire Jacobs scored 19 points, and La Salle held

VCU without a made 3-pointer.

Kayla Spruill supplied nine points off the bench, and Mia Jacobs paired seven points with seven boards for the Explorers (17-13, 8-7 Atlantic 10).

PENN 54, DARTMOUTH 37 » An 18-2 margin in the second quarter put the Quakers in control. Kayla Padilla led all scorers with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Jordan Obi added 11 points for Penn (179, 9-4).

SAINT JOSEPH’S 64, DUQUESNE 60 »

Talya Brugler paired 25 points with eight rebounds, and Mackenzie Smith added 23 points as the Hawks rallied back from down nine late in the third quarter. Laura Ziegler s supplied eight points and 12 boards for St. Joe’s (19-9, 9-7 Atlantic 10).

WICHITA STATE 79, TEMPLE 67 »

Aleah Nelson scored 16 points, but the Owls (10-17, 5-10 AAC) trailed by nine after 10 minutes and never quite recovered. Tarriyonna Gary added 15 points, and Caranda Perea had 14.