BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team was edged by Bryn Athyn College in a narrow 57-54 final in a United East Conference-Skye Division matchup on Saturday afternoon at Asplundh Field House.

The Lions started the game on a 9-2 run, finished off by a layup from junior Alayna Day (Reading, Pa.) with 6:09 to play in the opening quarter. The Falcons responded with a 9-0 spurt to snag a two-point lead, 11-9. The remainder of the frame featured two ties and two lead changes as Bryn Athyn held a slim 16-15 advantage at the end of one.

The home team began the second stanza on a 6-0 run to stretch the margin to seven, 22-15, following a triple by graduate student Kaylia Duncan (Reading, Pa.) with 8:47 left on the clock. Back-to-back baskets by Cedar Crest trimmed the deficit to three, but the Lions answered back with two straight buckets to extend the lead back to eight, 27-19 with 6:16 to play. The Falcons pulled to within two, 27-25, after a mini 6-0 run, which was capped with a layup from first-year Caylie Long (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) with 3:31 remaining. Cedar Crest cut the margin to one in the final two minutes, but Bryn Athyn scored one final basket in the period to enter halftime with a 31-28 lead.

The Falcons scored on two straight possessions to open the third quarter to regain the lead, 32-31. Neither team was able to create much separation as the margin never went above three points in the stanza. In the final 30 seconds, graduate student Nicole Sachman (Niles, Mich./Brandywine) knocked down a three-pointer to put Cedar Crest in front, 44-43, but the Lions were able to convert a basket in the final seconds to jump back ahead, 45-44, with 10 minutes to go.

The final quarter stayed tight and was tied at 52 at the midpoint. A jumper by first-year Kay'Lah Conway-Wright (Washington, D.C./Academy of the Holy Cross) gave the Falcons a 54-52 advantage with 3:57 remaining in regulation. Bryn Athyn then closed with a 5-0 run to hold on for the win. Cedar Crest multiple opportunities try and tie the game in the final two minutes but were unable to get the game-tying or winning bucket.

Junior Zhymani Smith (Hampton, Va.) posted a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal to pace Bryn Athyn. Day joined Smith in double figures with 12 points, three boards, three assists, and three steals.

Sachman guided the Falcons with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Long was the other Cedar Crest student-athlete in double figures with 14 points, seven boards, one assist, and three blocks.

Cedar Crest (9-11 overall, 8-9 United East-Skye Division) will conclude the regular season with a road game at Clarks Summit University on Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. Bryn Athyn (15-7 overall, 12-5 United East-Skye Division) will round out its regular season at Cairn University on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.  

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