BALTIMORE, Md. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team lost its United East Conference-Skye Division opener to Notre Dame of Maryland University in a 70-30 final on Tuesday night at the MBK Sports Complex.

The Gators led wire-to-wire, getting out to a 5-0 advantage after a successful free throw from junior Bethani Newbold (Anniston, Ala.) with 6:41 to play in the opening quarter. A basket by sophomore Jordan McGhee (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove) put the Falcons on the board to make the score 5-2. NDMU then closed the stanza on a 10-2 run to carry a 15-4 lead into the second frame.

The home team continued its strong play, outscoring Cedar Crest 17-5 in the second quarter to enter the half with a 23-point lead, 32-9.

The Gators stretched its margin to as many as 40, 59-19, in the third quarter following a layup by first-year Amani Watts (Severn, Md.) with 50 seconds remaining. NDMU scored once more before the buzzer sounded as senior Chantel Curry (Memphis, Tenn.) converted a layup with two seconds on the clock to send the home squad into the final frame up, 61-19.

The Falcons held an 11-9 scoring edge in the fourth quarter as the contest would end with the 70-30 final.

Graduate student Nicole Sachman (Niles, Mich./Brandywine) paced Cedar Crest with eight points, eight rebounds, and three assists. First-year Megan Perrine (Mount Vision, N.Y./Gilbertsville-Mount Upton) added six points and four boards. McGhee added six points, six rebounds, one assist, and two steals. First-year Caylie Long (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) pitched in six points, two steals, and a block. First-year Gwenyth Tsoukalas (North Port, Fla./North Port) registered three points, two boards, four steals, one block, and one steal. First-year Fe Simon (Apollo Beach, Fla./Lennard) closed out the scoring with one point to go along with three rebounds.

Watts led NDMU with 19 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, and a block.

Cedar Crest (0-3 overall, United East-Skye Division) will return home to host Bryn Athyn College on Saturday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m. Notre Dame of Maryland University (2-4 overall, 1-0 United East-Skye Division) will travel to Saint Elizabeth University for its next contest on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

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