Phoenix Fall to Falcons

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Wilson College women's basketball team continued Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play as they played host to the Falcons of Cedar Crest College. The Phoenix (1-9, 2-4 CSAC) were taken down by the Falcons in regulation by a score of 54-45.

How It Happened: The Phoenix jumped out to an early 5-0 lead as freshmen Jordan Yeager (Waynesboro, PA, Greencastle-Antrim) sunk two foul shots followed by a three from Samira Murphy (Virginia Beach, VA, Great Bridge Christian). Throughout the first, Wilson continued to connect on their foul shots as they finished shooting 88% in the opening quarter. Cedar Crest would hold the slight edge at the end of the quarter, 16-12.

In the second, Murphy went a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe followed by a deep three-pointer from senior Jordyn Day (Richmond, Va, Varina) that cut the deficit to just two points. On the next Phoenix possession, Yeager would then connect on a jumper that knotted the game up at 21 points with forty-four seconds remaining in the half. The Falcons, however, connected on a last-second shot that gave them a two-point edge going into the half. 

Cedar Crest would open the second half on a 9-3 run that extended their lead to 32-24 with just under four minutes in the quarter. Wilson continued to chip away and was able to pull within four thanks to a 7-3 run with points coming from Murphy, Yeager, and freshman Ta'Niya Kees (Baltimore, Md., Our Lady of Mount Carmel School). The Falcons would end the run with a three but Kees would answer right back on the next possession with a three of her own before the buzzer that brought the score to 38-34, still in Cedar Crest's favor. 

The Phoenix offense started to sputter in the fourth as they struggled to get anything going in the quarter. They did, however, continue to connect from the free-throw line, shooting 6-8 in the quarter. Despite fighting hard, Wilson would go on to be defeated by a final score of 54-45.

Inside the Box Score: Both teams struggled from the floor as Wilson shot 18% while their opponent finished shooting 24%. Kees and Murphy were the high scorers for the Phoenix as they finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Yeager rounded out the scoring with eight while sophomore Tori Cole (Orange Park, FL, Orange Park) tallied six points and, a career-high, 18 rebounds. Wilson shot lights out from the line tonight as they finished going 23-30 on free-throws. 

Up Next: The Phoenix will continue CSAC play as they get set to hit the road against the Giants of Keystone College (8-5, 6-0 CSAC) on Saturday, January 11, at 1:00 pm. 

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