ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team opened 2023 with a 61-44 loss to Wilson College on Tuesday night in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) matchup at Lees Gymnasium.

The Phoenix edged the Falcons 11-10 in the first quarter and carried a 25-19 lead into the halftime intermission with a 14-9 second quarter.

After Cedar Crest closed the deficit to two, 25-23, following a jumper by junior Morgan Ritchie (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh), Wilson embarked on an 18-0 run to extend its margin to 20, 43-23, capped off by a layup from first-year Laela Robinson (Lancaster, Pa.) with 2:30 left in the third stanza.

The Falcons pulled to within 15 in the late stages of the third quarter and the Phoenix were able to keep a hold on its double-digit margin to come away victorious in the 61-44 final.

Senior Samira Murphy (Virginia Beach, Va.) led Wilson with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. First-year Adrianna Stricek (Harrisburg, Pa.) was the only other Phoenix student-athlete with double-digit points, collecting a double-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals.

Ritchie guided the Falcons with a career-high 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting, along with one rebound and one steal. Sophomore Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) followed with 10 points, four boards, and two steals. Senior Ashley Wilson (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) added 10 points, five caroms, four assists, and three steals.

Cedar Crest (0-6 overall, 0-4 CSAC) will remain home to host the University of Valley Forge on Thursday, January 5 at 3:00 p.m. Wilson (6-4 overall, 3-1 CSAC) plays host to Cairn University on Thursday in a 5:00 p.m. tip.

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