That’s when the Warriors started to regain their footing.

On the back of a 28-9 run spanning late in the third quarter to the game’s conclusion, they were able to scrape by the Wildcats, 64-54, to obtain their fourth straight win to start the season. It’s managed to find ways to win amidst difficult scenarios throughout the season, a fact coach Christen Ditzler acknowledged after the victory.

“We’re finding ways to win. All four games that we’ve played so far, we’ve found a way to win,” said Ditzler. “The basketball gods are smiling on us right now.”

While the score remained relatively even through the first two quarters – with Penn College holding a slight lead through the second quarter but never being able to shake the Warriors, the two teams had two entirely different aspects working for them.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lycoming's Meghan Dufner (12) shoots over Penn College's Mia Patterson (24) in the second quarter.

Through the first quarter, the Wildcats shot the lights out, finishing the period shooting 63.6% from the field and 50% from three. The problem was, they were only able to take 11 shots.

On the other end, Lycoming struggled with shooting, but got so many opportunities that they managed to keep pace with Penn College. It converted 10 first-quarter offensive rebounds into seven second-chance points, a factor that kept the Wildcats from getting out ahead.

“One of the things we talked about with rebounding is that it’s intention, it’s effort,” said Penn College coach Britni Mohney on the team’s struggles there. “The minute that shot goes up, we need to find a body, release and secure the board.”

It seemed that in order for one team to break out, a positive had to give or a negative had to be corrected. And despite a dominant third quarter from the Wildcats, Lycoming was able to score two critical shots at the end of the period to cut the lead to five and from there, it managed to get going offensively.

It scored 24 of its 64 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 57% from the field. And after seven-straight missed threes in the third — which dropped the Warriors to eight percent in category at 2 of 24 — junior guard Mya Wetzel drilled one to end the drought. When asked about what helped the Warriors get back on track, Ditzler said it just came down to slowing things down.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lycoming College's Ashley Yoh (21) drives the ball around Penn College's Allie Troup (21) in the second quarter.

“We were settling on some three-point shots and unfortunately, they weren’t going in,” said Ditzler. “That’s when you have to attack the paint and that’s what I thought we did more of in the second half. We also got some points off steals.”

Ashley Yoh led the way for the Warriors in scoring and rebounding, securing a double-double at 18 points and 11 boards (six offensive) and going 8 for 8 from the line. Meghan Dufner was far behind her in scoring, finishing with 16 points on 54% shooting.

“She was a mix of everything. From a defensive standpoint, from an offensive standpoint,” said Ditzler on Yoh. “She played phenomenally. She rebounded so well and put herself in every single good position.”

Penn College finished the game with three double-digit scorers in Lexi Troup (16), Emily Pardee (12) and Rachel Teats (12), with that trio doing all it could to keep the Wildcats ahead late. Although the team ultimately fell short in coming out victorious, the coaching staff had a lot to be proud of on the night.

It falls to 1-5 on the year, but Mohney feels the team will be able to get back on track.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Rachel Teats and Lycoming's Kami Abdo chase down a lose ball in the firs quarter.

“I’m really proud of my team. We compete with Lycoming every single year and I look forward to the year that we actually one out on them,” said Mohney. “We always going to play Lyco right before Thanksgiving break and have the mindset going in like, ‘let’s get one before the break.'”

For Lycoming, it’s happy to go into the break undefeated and hopes to continue improving once it gets back.

“It’ll be a happier Thanksgiving,” said Ditzler on picking up the win.

LYCOMING (4-0)

Ashley Yoh 5-10 8-8 18; Meghan Dufner 7-13 0-0 16; Emily Lockard 3-7 4-4 10; Mya Wetzel 3-19 0-0 7; Alicia Goldenziel 3-6 0-0 6; Kami Abdo 2-8 0-0 5; Lisa Star 1-4 0-0 2; Ann-Marie McMurtrie 0-4 0-0 0; Makenna Hartman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-71 12-12 64.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lycoming College women's basketball head coach Christen Ditzler watches her team on Tuesday compete against Penn College.

PENN COLLEGE (1-5)

Lexi Troup 6-12 1-3 16; Rachel Teats 4-11 1-2 12; Emily Pardee 4-13 4-4 12; Keeley Baker 3-5 2-3 8; Kenni Galbreath 1-3 1-2 3; Shelby Pyatt 1-2 0-02; Mia Patterson 0-1 1-2 1; Allie Troup 0-2 0-0 0; Kayleigh Miller 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-50 10-16 54.

Lycoming 15 15 10 24 — 64

Penn College 18 12 15 9 — 54

3-point goals: L 4-30 (Wetzel 1-16, Dufner 2-6, Abdo 1-6, McMurtrie 0-1, Yoh 0-1), PCT 10-16 (Pardee 4-4, Baker 2-3, Troup 1-3, Teats 1-2, Galbreath 1-2, Patterson 1-2). Fouled out: L-Dufner; PCT-none. Rebounds: L 47 (Godenziel 12, Yoh 11), PCT 22 (Troup 8). Assists: L 14 (Yoh 4), PCT 12 (Pardee 4). Technical fouls: L-none; PCT-none. Total fouls: L 17, PCT 15. A: 267.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lycoming College's Kami Abdo (2) shoots around Penn College's Alicia Goldenziel (25) in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Emily Pardee (5) shoots in front of Lycoming's Ashley Yoh (21) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Kenni Galbreath (10) shoots over Lycoming's Meghan Dufner (12) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Allie Troup (21) shoots between Lycoming's Emily Orth (33) and Alicia Goldenziel (25).

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Kenni Galbreath (10) tries to drive around Lycoming's Meghan Dufner in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College's Kenni Galbreath drives the ball down floor around Lycoming defenders in the first quarter.