PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. – Following a 22-day layoff for exams and the holidays, the Cedar Crest College basketball team emerged victorious against the University of Valley Forge by a final score of 64-52 in a United East Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon.

The Falcons (4-4 overall, 2-3 United East) overcame 16 turnovers with a strong effort on the defensive end, finishing with 10 steals and two blocks while holding the Patriots under 35-percent shooting. Sophomore Caylie Long (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) paced Cedar Crest with 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Senior Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) chipped in 16 points, three boards, and two steals. First-year Maliya Gonzalez (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) added 13 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. Sophomore Megan Perrine (Mount Vision, N.Y./Gilbertsville-Mount Upton) rounded out the Falcons in double figures with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Senior Bryanna Rivera (Reading, Pa./Greenfield (Mass.)) closed out the visitor box score with eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

The visitors never trailed en route to the victory. The Falcons held a slim 7-6 advantage and then back-to-back buckets sent the margin up to six following a three-pointer from Rivera with 4:36 on the clock to double up Valley Forge, 12-6. The Patriots answered back with five consecutive points to cut the Cedar Crest margin to one, 12-11. The Falcons outscored the Patriots 7-4 over the remainder of the quarter to hold a 19-15 lead at the end of one.

Cedar Crest continued to build its lead in the second stanza as Long, Bilger, and Perrine provided points in the paint. After a bucket by Valley Forge to make the score 23-19 with 5:33 to go in the half, the Falcons pushed the margin to double digits with a 10-3 run to lead 33-22 at the intermission.

Long netted eight points in the third quarter as the Falcons' lead expanded to as many as 20, 46-26. The Patriots cut the Cedar Crest deficit to 13 at the conclusion of the frame and began the fourth quarter on a 14-3 run to pull within two, 54-52, with 4:17 left in regulation. The Falcons then closed the game with 10 unanswered points to seal the victory.

Valley Forge outrebounded Cedar Crest 46-42 while the Falcons outscored the Patriots 12-5 at the free throw line. Cedar Crest shot just over 37 percent for the game, with all but two field goals coming within the arc.

Sophomore Lucy Mauerman (Phoenixville, Pa.) guided the home team with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Sophomore Olivia Rochkind (Pittsburgh, Pa.) pitched in a double-double of 15 points, 12 boards, and two assists. Dominique Barnes had a double-double of her own, recording 11 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.

Cedar Crest will next host Rosemont College on Saturday, January 11 at 1:00 p.m. The University of Valley Forge (3-8 overall, 2-2 United East) will return to action at Bryn Athyn College on Wednesday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m.