(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – It was a spectacular senior day for Wilson as it won its second-straight contest by means of a 58-43 decision over visiting Cedar Crest on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix stayed true to their game by controlling the inside while using a stout defense to limit the Falcons' opportunities.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 58, Cedar Crest 43
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 12-6, 9-3 CSAC; Cedar Crest 1-11, 1-9 CSAC
How It Happened
- After some close back-and-forth action to start the game, Wilson started to pull away midway through the first quarter. A Samira Murphy (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va. / Great Bridge Christian) layup on a dish from Madison Ross (Sr., New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford) put the Phoenix back in front 6-5 and sparked a 13-1 run over a span of five minutes. Cedar Crest eventually hit a 3-pointer to break its dry spell and set the score at 17-9 in favor of Wilson heading to the second.
- Wilson pushed its lead to 13 on a couple of occasions early in the second with Murphy and Bry Hicks (So., Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) doing the honors with a pair of layups, but the Falcons didn't go away quietly and used a 10-2 run to climb back and cut the deficit to 26-23 with 1:11 to go in the half. However, a steal by Ross and a fastbreak layup by Adrianna Stricek (Fy., Harrisburg, Pa. / Trinity) on the assist from Murphy sent the Phoenix into the break up 28-23.
- The Phoenix took control in the third quarter, their best of the game, as they outscored the Falcons 22-8. Murphy was the catalyst behind most of the offense as she scored 10 points in the frame alone. She remained hot to start the fourth quarter as a layup gave Wilson a 52-31 lead, its largest of the game. A Naomi Hanton (Sr., Bristow, Va. / Patriot) jumper put the Phoenix back up by 21 at 56-35 midway through the frame before the Falcons closed the game with an 8-2 run to set up the final score.
Inside The Numbers
- Murphy finished the game with 20 points and 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. She led all scorers by going 8-for-15 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line. She paced the team defensively as well as she rejected three Falcons shots and made two steals on the day.
- Stricek joined her with a double-double of her own on 14 points and 11 boards. She was 6-for-9 and did most of her glass work on the home side with eight offensive rebounds. It was her ninth double-double of the season.
- Yaya Cannon (Sr., Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) also had a solid day as she poured in 10 points. She nearly had a double-double herself as she pulled down eight caroms. She filled up her stat line with four assists and two steals.
- Wilson controlled the inside the entire day and outscored Cedar Crest 40-16. The numbers on the glass favored the Phoenix as well as they outrebounded the Falcons 57-44.
- During the pivotal third quarter, Wilson took control of the game by shooting 52.9% (9-of-17) from the field compared to just 7.1% (1-of-14) by the Falcons.
- With the win, Wilson holds onto second place with a 9-3 league record in the CSAC standings with six games to go in the regular season.
Up Next
One of those losses came against Notre Dame back in late November. The Phoenix will see the Gators again in their next contest at home this Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
