BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team dropped its season opener to Sarah Lawrence College, 64-56, on Wednesday night at Campbell Sports Center.

The beginning stages of the first quarter were tight as the Falcons held an 8-7 lead after a layup from senior Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) with 5:28 to play. After that basket, the Gryphons would close the stanza on an 11-0 run to hold an 18-8 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Sarah Lawrence led by as many as 15, 33-18, following a jumper by junior Kaila Dorch (Bronx, N.Y.) with 2:39 on the clock, before ending the frame with a 16-point advantage, 37-21.

The Gryphons extended its margin to as many as 19, 40-21, in the third quarter. Cedar Crest answered with a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to nine, 42-33, with 1:33 to play in the frame. Sarah Lawrence pushed its lead back to double figures and would carry a 10-point margin, 45-35, into the final quarter.

A triple from first-year Maliya Gonzalez (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) pulled the Falcons back to within seven, 45-38. Cedar Crest got to within seven again, 52-45, with 5:13 remaining, but the Gryphons were able to hang on for the eight-point victory, 64-56.

Dorch paced Sarah Lawrence with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds to go along three assists, and one steal. Junior Colleen Coughlin (Johnson City, Tenn.) followed with 15 points, six boards, seven assists, and two steals. Junior Gabby Hudson pitched in 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and five steals. First-year Audrey Mattison rounded out the Gryphons in double figures with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Gonzalez guided the Falcons with 16 points in addition to two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Sophomore Caylie Long (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) tallied 15 points, eight boards, three assists, three steals, and a block. Bilger turned in a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds while also recording two assists and a steal. Junior Kyleigh Monk (Havre de Grace, Md./John Carroll) closed out the Cedar Crest players in double-digit points with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

Cedar Crest (0-1 overall) will next face SUNY Old Westbury in a road game on Saturday, November 16 at noon. Sarah Lawrence (1-2 overall) will return to action on Saturday for a home date with John Jay College at 5:30 p.m.