Allentown, PA - In a clash of the CSAC titans, two former Colonial States Athletic Conference Rookies of the Year, who both happen to play the center position, faced off for what may be the final time.

Cedar Crest College's 6'0" senior center Lizzy Sunderhaus (Hamilton, OH/Stephen T. Badin) and Baptist Bible College's 6'2" sophomore center Kacee Rava went head to head on Wednesday in their final regular season meeting of the season. Although both put up big numbers,  it was Rava and the Defenders who went home with the 73-60 CSAC victory.

Cedar Crest put forth a game effort from the tip. The teams traded the lead and tied the score several times over the first 10 minutes of the game. But the Falcons were unable to make any headway in a power play situation when Rava subbed out for a breather, and upon her return with fresh legs at the 8:00 mark she proceeded to pour in 10 more points for a total of 20 for the first half alone. Her brief scoring spurt allowed the Defenders to enter the locker room up 40-31, with Rava and Ruthie Butts combining for 32 of those 40 first-half points. Sunderhaus had 13 at the break.

The Falcons made a run at the Defenders to open the second half, outscoring the visitors 11-7 over the opening five minutes to cut the lead to five. But as fatigue took its toll on Cedar Crest, BBC gradually extended their lead to as many as 19 at one point. Cedar Crest made one last push in the closing minutes to get within 13 but could get no closer than that.

Rava led all scorers with 36 points and all rebounders with 14. Sunderhaus led the Falcons with 25 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Amber Wehry (Klingerstown, PA/Tri-Valley Jr/Sr) had 17 points and six boards. 

Cedar Crest is now 3-13 on the season and 1-8 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference, while Baptist Bible improves to 10-5 and 5-2 in the CSAC. Next up, the Falcons travel to CSAC opponent Gwynedd-Mercy College on Saturday, January 21st, for a 2:00 PM game.