LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team was taken down by Cairn University in an 80-51 final in United East Conference-Skye Division play on Saturday afternoon at the Mason Activity Center.

After the Highlanders opened the scoring on a layup by first-year Mikayla Raines (Jonesboro, Ga.), the Falcons went on a 6-0 run, which was capped off by a free throw to convert a three-point play by junior Bryanna Rivera (Reading, Pa./Greenfield (Mass.)). Cairn would tie the score at six and then Cedar Crest put together a mini 5-0 run to go up 11-6. Back-to-back buckets from the Highlanders cut the margin to one, 11-10, with 2:14 on the clock. Later in the stanza, Cairn made it a one-point game, 13-12, following a pair of free throws from first-year Amalia Vamvakitis (Waterford, Mich.), but the Falcons scored with 14 seconds left on a jump shot by Rivera to end the first quarter with a 15-12 advantage.

The Highlanders began the second quarter on a 17-0 to turn a three-point deficit into a 14-point lead, 29-15. The run was finished off by a three-pointer by Raines with 6:05 to play in the half. After a layup by sophomore Jordan McGhee (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove) put a stop to the run, Cairn embarked on another long run, this time a 13-0 run, to extend the margin to 25, 42-17, with 2:24 remaining. The Highlanders pushed its lead to as many as 26 in the last few minutes of the stanza and would enter the locker room at the half with a 23-point lead, 44-21.

Cedar Crest got to within 16 in the third quarter following a mini 6-0 run, capped off by a layup from graduate student Nicole Sachman (Niles, Mich./Brandywine) to make the score 50-34 with 2:48 to play in the frame. Cairn answered back with a 8-0 over the final 1:08 to carry a 62-36 advantage into the final quarter.

The Highlanders led by as many as 37 in the fourth frame, 79-42, with 3:09 left in the game. The Falcons then closed on a 9-1 run, but would ultimately fall by the 80-51 score.

Cairn got a game-high 43 points on 14-for-25 shooting (5-for-8 from three) from Raines. The first-year also went 10-for-12 from the charity stripe and added two rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and a steal. Junior Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, N.J.) registered a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. She also contributed two blocks and two steals. First-year Ella Quince (Morrisville, Pa.) was the final Highlander in double-digit points, collecting 11 points, 12 boards, six assists, and seven steals.

Sachman paced Cedar Crest with 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and six steals. Rivera followed with 13 points, one rebound, three assists, and one steal. McGhee was the final Falcons' student-athlete in double figures, registering 13 points, four boards, one assist, and one steal.

Cedar Crest (7-9 overall, 6-7 United East-Skye Division) will next host Notre Dame of Maryland University on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m. Cairn (10-7 overall, 6-5 United East-Skye Division) will stay at home to welcome in Clarks Summit University on Wednesday, January 31 at 5:00 p.m.

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