Cedar Crest College Athletics

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College basketball team was edged out by John Jay College, 85-83, in double overtime on Wednesday night at Lees Gymnasium.

The Falcons answered an early 6-2 deficit by turning Bloodhounds' turnovers into offense, with senior Analyse Rios' (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) steal leading to her layup and junior Ginger Kerdock's (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) steal preceding junior Ella Bincarosky's (Coopersburg, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) three-pointer for a 7-6 lead. Cedar Crest finished the quarter with five steals, forced nine turnovers and added 14 points in the paint. Senior Madison Olguin's (San Antonio, Texas/Antonian Prep) late offensive rebound and layup helped the Falcons close the first quarter ahead 21-15.

Cedar Crest widened their lead in the second quarter, scoring inside early before Bincarosky hit consecutive three-pointers to make it 32-17 with 6:50 left. The defense helped hold John Jay to 10 points in the quarter by forcing seven turnovers and adding two blocks. The Falcons entered halftime ahead 36-25.

Cedar Crest's third-quarter cushion narrowed late, as the Bloodhounds scored the final eight points after sophomore Gabrielle Moore's (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) layup had put the Falcons ahead 47-33 with 4:40 left. Earlier, senior Samora Merchant (Danbury, Conn./Henry Abbott Technical) scored two early layups and Rios added a 3-pointer, but Cedar Crest finished the quarter with seven turnovers and were outscored 16-11 in the quarter. The Falcons entered the fourth quarter leading 47-41.

The home team led 57-48 after Bincarosky's triple with 4:52 left in the fourth quarter, but the John Jay erased the gap and went in front 58-57. Bincarosky answered with two free throws to put Cedar Crest back ahead, and sophomore Hailey Wolbeck (Hemet, Calif./Western Center Academy) added one more at the line for a 60-58 edge. The Bloodhounds tied it on a layup with eight seconds left, and the quarter ended 60-60.
Bincarosky pulled the Falcons even in the first overtime, making a three-pointer with four seconds left and adding the free throw to tie the score at 73-73. Cedar Crest extended possessions late, with Rios grabbing offensive rebounds before both of Bincarosky's triples in the final minute. The teams each scored 13 points in the overtime, which ended tied 73-73.

The Falcons moved in front in the second overtime when Kerdock hit a three-pointer at 1:55, then added a free throw to give Cedar Crest an 83-81 lead. John Jay answered with sophomore Bryan Bascones' (Worcester, Mass.) layup to tie the score at 83 and, after a Cedar Crest turnover, Bascones hit a jumper with four seconds left for an 85-83 edge. Bincarosky's final three-point try missed, and the Falcons fell 85-83.
 
For Cedar Crest, Bincarosky scored 23 points, made six three-pointers, and added four steals. Merchant finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks. Rios recorded 17 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and four assists. Kerdock added 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

For John Jay, Bascones scored 26 points, collected 10 rebounds and went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line. Senior Michaela Lattimore (Morristown, N.J.) finished with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting and added eight rebounds. Sophomore Kailani Galan (Manchester, Conn.) recorded seven assists with seven points and five rebounds. Junior Alexis Jones (Sewell, N.J.) added 12 points, six rebounds, and two three-pointers.

Cedar Crest (0-3 overall) will next face Centenary University in the Keystone College Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. John Jay (1-1 overall) returns to action at home against St. Joseph's University Brooklyn on Saturday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m.