PHOENIXVILLE, PA – The University of Valley Forge women's basketball team has not been having a lot of success on the court this year, but it hasn't stopped them from working hard every day in practice.  Determined to get better and improve their game, the team's hard work was evident against Baptist Bible College on Thursday night.  After playing one of their best games of the season, the Patriots took down the Defenders by a final score of 68-54.

After a layup from Ariene Ohimor, the Patriots stormed out to an early 11-4 lead with 9:57 remaining in the opening half.  Ohimor was tough to stop inside all night as she scored 8 points and collected a game-high 10 rebounds.  Over the next five minutes, the Defenders clamped down on Defense and went on a 10-0 scoring run to take a three point lead.  Megan Wagner, of Baptist Bible, was doing a lot of work for the Defenders as she scored 6 points during the run and finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds.  The teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the half all the way until the final buzzer.  Bailey Mayforth hit a jumper as time expired to give the Patriots a one point lead (26-25), and lots of momentum heading into the locker room.

The energized Patriots came out in the second and looked like they were on a mission.  After back-to-back three-pointers from Patience Ekuta and Bailey Mayforth, the Patriots built a 36-29 lead with 15:47 remaining.  Mikala Brinson picked up three fouls early in the first half and didn't see much action.  However, in the second half she stayed out of foul trouble and began to make a difference.  She scored 10 straight points for the Patriots, including two 3-pointers, to help build a 46-33 lead.  Then, holding a ten point lead with 5:00 remaining, it was Mayforth's turn.  She hit back-to-back three-pointers of her own, then another jumper to give the Patriots a 14 point lead.  It was too much to overcome for the Defenders, and the Patriots went on to win, 68-54.

After the game, Head Coach Gretchen LeVan said, "This was the most complete game I have ever seen us play.  We played as a team and won as a team."  It looks like all that hard work is starting to pay off for this Patriots squad!

Defenders' Callie Kitowski finished with a game-high 22 points and 6 rebounds.  Brinson finished with 17 points and a game-high 7 assists.  Mayforth tied her career-high with 21 points, while grabbing 7 rebounds and collecting 5 steals.  She shot 4-6 from three-point range.  Ekuta also knocked in two three-pointers and finished with 13 points.

The Patriots will have a day off before returning to action this Saturday against Trinity Washington University!  The game will be at 2PM @ The Pit! 

Go Patriots!