ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team cruised to a 73-46 victory over the University of Valley Forge in a United East Conference-Skye Division contest at Lees Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The Falcons started the game on a 12-0 run and held the Patriots scoreless for nearly half of the first quarter. The run by Cedar Crest was finished off by a bucket from first-year Megan Perrine (Mount Vision, N.Y./Gilbertsville-Mount Upton) with 5:20 left in the stanza. After Valley Forge cut the margin to seven, 14-7, the Falcons closed the frame on a 6-0 run to extend its lead to 13, 20-7, at the end of the opening quarter.

First-year Caylie Long (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) notched the first three points of the second stanza to push the margin to 16, 23-7, with 8:21 on the clock. The Patriots responded with seven straight points to trim its deficit to nine, 23-14. The run was capped off by a three-pointer from Mariah Matthews (Baltimore, Md.) with 5:14 to play in the half. Back-to-back buckets by Cedar Crest pushed its advantage to double figures and the Falcons did not let its lead dip below 11 as the Falcons went into the locker room with a 16-point lead, 38-22.

The home team kept its foot on the gas pedal in the third quarter and nearly doubled up Valley Forge in the frame, 23-11. Cedar Crest remained comfortably in front for the entire stanza and after a free throw by Olivia Rochkind (Pittsburgh, Pa.) to make the score 48-33, the Falcons finished the quarter on a 13-0 run to carry a 61-33 advantage into the final quarter.

Cedar Crest extended its lead to as many as 30 in the last stanza before coming away with the 27-point win, 73-46.

Long led the way for the Falcons with a game-high 24 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists, seven steals, and a block. Sophomore Jordan McGhee (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove) followed with 13 points, two boards, four assists, and a steal. Perrine pitched in 11 points, seven caroms, two assists, and three steals. Graduate student registered 10 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, six steals, and a block.

Matthews guided the Patriots with 17 points, one rebound, and two assists. Kaionna Hanna (Las Vegas, Nev.) joined Matthes in double figures with 12 points, four boards, two assists, and a block.

Cedar Crest (9-9 overall, 8-7 United East-Skye Division) will host Saint Elizabeth University in its regular season home finale on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m. The University of Valley Forge (0-21 overall, 0-15 United East-Skye Division) will travel to Clarks Summit University for its next game on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

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