DAYTONA, Fla. – The Widener University women's basketball team downed Bridgewater State University, 86-69, at the Land of Magic Classic hosted by Embry-Riddle University on Wednesday afternoon.

Winners of five straight games, Widener improves to 7-3 on the season, while Bridgewater slips to 5-4.

Trailing 33-27 at the half and 46-36 in the early stages of the second half, Bridgewater used a 12-3 run to pull to within a point (49-48) with 12:55 remaining.

Widener, however, would net nine straight points and outscored the Bears 23-6 over the next six and half minutes to take complete control of the game.

Widener forced 28 BSU turnovers thanks in large part to 20 steals. The Pride also limited the Bears to 33% (23-69) shooting and just 3-for-16 (19%) from three-point range. Bridgewater did however knock down an impressive 20 of 22 (91%) free throw attempts.

Widener shot 46% (31-68) from the floor and connected on 6 of 13 (46%) three-point attempts. The Pride held a 32-11 advantage in bench points.

Junior guard Kate Dellinger (Wrightsville, Pa.) led all players with 17 points and also added five rebounds, four assists and five steals for the Pride.  Sophomore guard Joanna Persiano (Absecon, N.J.) tallied 16 points, four boards and three steals, while junior forward Vanessa Hejnas (Delran, N.J.) registered 12 points and eight rebounds.  Sophomore guard Jennifer Egee (Ridley Park, Pa.) checked in with ten points, four caroms and three steals.

Junior forward Michaela Cosby (Walpole, Mass.) paced the Bears with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, while sophomore forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) notched 12 points, nine boards, four assists and a pair of steals.  Senior forward Shelly DePina (New Bedford, Mass.) chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks, and classmate Monica-Sabina Bharoocha (North Smithfield, R.I.) added 12 points.

Bridgewater will face Kean University tomorrow afternoon at four, while Widener takes on Montclair State at noon.