BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The No. 6 seeded Cedar Crest College basketball team was knocked out of the United East Conference Championship Tournament with a 69-49 loss to third-seed Bryn Athyn College in a Skye Division First Round contest on Saturday afternoon at Asplundh Field House.

The Lions got out an early 9-4 lead, finished off by a layup from junior Alayna Day (Reading, Pa.) at the 5:35 mark. After a bucket from junior Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) to cut the deficit to three, Bryn Athyn finished the frame on an 8-3 run to hold a 17-9 advantage at the end of 10 minutes.

The Falcons outscored Bryn Athyn 10-6 over the opening 6:25 of the second stanza to trim the margin to four, 23-19. Cedar Crest got to within four two more times in the frame, the second being after a layup by graduate student Nicole Sachman (Niles, Mich./Brandywine) to make the score 27-23. The Lions would score once more on a triple from junior Zhymani Smith (Hampton, Va.) with 1:16 remaining to carry a 30-23 lead into the half.

Bryn Athyn converted a basket to begin the second half to stretch its advantage to nine, 32-23, on a layup by graduate student Kaylia Duncan (Reading, Pa.). Cedar Crest answered back with a 7-2 spurt to pull to within four, 34-30, after a layup from Sachman with 6:20 on the clock. The Lions replied with six quick points to push the lead back up to double digits, 40-30. After the Falcons trimmed it to eight, 44-36, following two free throws by first-year Caylie Long (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove), Bryn Athyn finished the quarter on a mini 6-1 run to go up 50-37 with 10 minutes to go.

The Lions outscored Cedar Crest 19-12 in the last stanza and led by as many as 22 en route to the 69-49 final score.

Long guided the Falcons with 12 points, five rebounds, one assist, one block, and four steals. Sachman followed with 11 points, 11 boards, two assists, one block, and three steals. Junior Bryanna Rivera (Reading, Pa./Greenfield (Mass.)) collected 11 points, one rebound, and two assists.

Smith finished with a game-high 25 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Day tallied 18 points, four caroms, two assists, and two steals.

Cedar Crest ends its season with a 10-12 overall record. Bryn Athyn (17-7 overall) will travel to No. 2 seed Saint Elizabeth University for a Skye Division Semifinal contest on Monday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m.  

For the latest on Cedar Crest Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!