ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball secured its second-consecutive victory with a 68-55 triumph over Cairn University in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play on Wednesday night at Lees Gymnasium.

The teams split the first eight points of the game before the Falcons netted two straight buckets, finished off by a jumper from sophomore Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) to make the score 8-4 with 3:43 to play. The Highlanders responded with three straight points to pull to within one, but the Falcons came back with three points of their own to lead 11-7 at the end of one.

Cedar Crest broke the game open in the second and began the frame with a 7-0 run to build an 11-point margin, 18-7, which was capped off by a layup by senior Ashley Wilson (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) with 7:40 remaining in the frame. The Falcons stretched its lead to as many as 13 points and entered the half up by a 31-18 score.

Cedar Crest built its advantage to as many as 26 in the third quarter, which was sparked by a 10-0 run, to give the Falcons a 55-29 lead and was finished off with a triple by Wilson with 2:42 to go. The Highlanders concluded the last 2:41 with two buckets as they cut its deficit to 22, 55-33.

Cairn trimmed the margin to as few as 11 in the last stanza, which came after a layup from sophomore Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, N.J.) with 3:20 remaining in regulation.

Cedar Crest remained comfortably in front for the rest of the game as they finished with the 13-point win, 68-55.

Wilson guided the Falcons with a team-high 26 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists, and eight steals. First-year Jordan McGhee (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove) registered a season-high 21 points and also finished with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Classmate Bella Bozen (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) recorded a near double-double with a season-high 10 points and added eight boards and two assists. Bilger collected a stat line of seven points, nine caroms, and two assists while first-year Haivynn Kovach (Virginia Beach, Va./Churchland) concluded the game with four points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and a steal.

Hinson led the Highlanders with a game-high 30 points to go with 12 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and a steal. Sophomore Tamia Warner (Ewing, N.J.) contributed 12 points, six boards, six assists, a block, and a steal. Sophomore Kailee Sobrino (Tucson, Ariz.) was the final Cairn player with double-digit points, collecting 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal in defeat.

Cedar Crest (3-15, 3-13 CSAC) closes out its season on Saturday, February 18 at home against Notre Dame of Maryland University in a 1:00 p.m. tip. The game also marks Senior Day and it will be a White Out. Wear white and come to Lees Gymnasium as we honor our three seniors in the final game of the season. Cairn (4-19 overall, 2-15 CSAC) finishes its season on Saturday in a home contest against Keystone College in a 1:00 p.m. start.

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