LA PLUME, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College basketball team defeated Centenary University, 74-44, on Friday night in the Keystone College Tip-Off Tournament, highlighted by a 17-0 fourth-quarter run that stretched a 57-44 lead to 74-44.
The Falcons took control of the first quarter with an 8-0 run, holding the Cyclones scoreless for 10 straight possessions while turning a 3-2 deficit into a 10-3 lead. Senior
Samora Merchant (Danbury, Conn./Henry Abbott Technical) scored consecutive layups during the stretch, and junior
Ella Bincarosky (Coopersburg, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) added a fast-break three-pointer after a steal from junior
Ginger Kerdock (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck). Cedar Crest finished the quarter ahead 16-12.
In the second stanza, the Falcons created separation with an 8-0 run, getting triples from seniors
Analyse Rios (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) and
Madison Olguin (San Antonio, Texas/Antonian Prep) before first-year
Serenity Shipman's (Syracuse, N.Y./Timber Creek) second-chance layup made it 26-16. First-year
Tati Medina (Lancaster, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) and Bincarosky added three-pointers after Centenary answered, and Merchant's late putback helped the Cedar Crest close the quarter with an 18-11 scoring edge. The Falcons went into halftime ahead 34-23.
After the Cyclones got within 34-30 early in the third quarter, Cedar Crest answered with Kerdock's putback and later turned steals by Medina and sophomore
Hailey Wolbeck (Hemet, Calif./Western Center Academy) into baskets by first-year
Loralye Walz (Camden, S.C./Camden) and Olguin. The Falcons scored 21 points in the frame, including 16 from their bench, and entered the fourth ahead 55-38.
Cedar Crest closed the fourth quarter with a 17-0 run, holding the Centenary scoreless after the visitors' basket at 7:55 and turning a 57-44 score into a 74-44 final. Walz started the stretch with a layup. Rios, Walz and, first-year
Cadence Painchaud (Granada Hills, Calif./Heritage Christian) each hit three-pointers, and the Falcons finished the quarter with four steals.
For Cedar Crest, Walz scored 13 points, converted 4-of-4 free throws, and added two steals. Merchant finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, including five offensive boards, and a block. Kerdock recorded five assists and four steals while adding three points. Rios tallied 12 points and four assists.
For Centenary, junior Alexandra Koon (Elizabeth, N.J.) finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals while going 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. Senior Kezia Feaster (Elizabeth, N.J.) added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Senior Imani Blucher (East Orange, N.J.) scored nine points on three three-pointers. Sophomore Olivia Minnich (Germansville, Pa.) recorded two steals, two assists, and three rebounds.
Cedar Crest (1-3 overall) will next play Marywood University on Saturday, November 14 at noon in the Keystone College Tip-Off Tournament. Centenary (0-4) faces host Keystone College on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
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