ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team opened the new year with a 70-55 victory over Saint Elizabeth University on Saturday afternoon at Lees Gymnasium in a Colonial States Athletic Conference matchup.

The opening quarter was back-and-fourth over the first 5:02, trading six points apiece. The Eagles closed the frame with a 6-1 run to hold a 12-7 advantage at the end of the first stanza.

Cedar Crest erupted for 23 points in the second quarter and turned the five-point deficit into a seven-point lead at the half, 30-23.

The margin hung around seven until it ballooned to 10 following a layup from junior Kelly Reid (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) to make the score 43-33 with 1:05 left in the third stanza. Saint Elizabeth answered back with four straight points to enter the fourth quarter with a six-point deficit, 43-37.

The Falcons controlled the remainder of the game and eventually pushed the lead to 15 for the 70-55 final.

Junior Jenna McDonald (Ovid, N.Y./South Seneca) led the way for Cedar Crest with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Classmate Ashley Wilson (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) pitched in 16 points off the bench to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Junior Kelly Reid (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) followed with 14 points, seven boards, two assists, and one steal. Megan Peifer (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly) closed out the Falcons in double-figure scoring with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Freshman Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J.) tallied a game-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, and six steals for the Eagles. Junior Chloe Medder (Chandler, Ariz.) followed with 15 points, eight board, one assist, one steal, and two blocks while classmate Alani Jones (Newark, N.J.) closed out the visitors in double figures with 12 points in 37 minutes.

Cedar Crest (2-7 overall, 1-5 CSAC) begins a three-game road trip on Tuesday, January 18 at Clarks Summit University. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. Saint Elizabeth (0-10 overall, 0-6 CSAC) remains on the road for a contest at Notre Dame of Maryland University on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

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