MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team edged Saint Elizabeth University, winning by a 48-47 final in their regular season road finale at St. Joseph Hall on Wednesday night in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action.

Freshman Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) registered season-highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Falcons, who improved to 6-14 overall (5-12 CSAC). Junior Ashley Wilson (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) added 13 points, six boards, four steals, three assists, and a block while classmate Kelly Reid (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) had nine points and six rebounds.

Freshman Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J.) paced (4-17 overall, 4-13 CSAC) with a game-highs of 25 points, 13 rebounds, six steals, and four assists while junior Herbina Exume (Irvington, N.J.) pitched in a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards off the bench.  

Cedar Crest led 22-19 at the half and held the Eagles to just 20 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes. The scoring picked up in the third quarter, with Saint Elizabeth turning a five-point deficit into a six-point lead, 36-30, following a free throw by Battle with 54 seconds left in the stanza. A basket by Wilson trimmed the Falcon deficit to four, 36-32, heading into the final quarter.  

Trailing by seven after a triple from Battle to start the last frame, the Falcons went on a 9-0 run to grab the 41-39 lead with 5:35 remaining. The lead would bounce back-and-forth over the next two minutes with neither team having more than a three-point advantage.

After junior Joelle Sherman (Newark, N.J.) knocked down a jumper with 1:44 remaining to make the score 47-44, Bilger would go on to knock down four straight free throws, making her 9-for-9 on the night at the charity stripe to give Cedar Crest the 48-47 edge with 23 seconds left. The Eagles had two opportunities to take the lead on the final possession but were unable to convert as the Falcons held on with the one-point victory.

Cedar Crest will return home to host Bryn Athyn College tomorrow, Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. for Senior Day to close out the regular season. Saint Elizabeth will round out its season with a road contest at Cairn University on Saturday, February 19 at 1:00 p.m.

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