(MORRISTOWN, N.J.) – The last time Wilson and Saint Elizabeth met on the court just one month ago, the Phoenix defeated the Eagles in a double-overtime thriller. Once again 40 minutes weren't enough to decide a winner, but unfortunately for Wilson, this time it was Saint Elizabeth who squeezed out a win in extra time.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 68, Saint Elizabeth 72
Venue: St. Joseph's Hall
Records: Wilson 15-7, 12-4 CSAC; Saint Elizabeth 15-8, 12-4 CSAC
How It Happened
- After a slow start, Wilson came alive with a forceful second quarter. Trailing by four to start the frame, the Phoenix tied the game at 13-all on buckets by Laela Robinson (Fy., Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley) and Bry Hicks (So., Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic). They were able to turn that into an 11-0 run over a stretch of 6:16 before the Eagles answered with a couple of layups to make the score 20-17. Wilson kept control of the and eventually went into halftime up 28-22 following a buzzer-beating jumper from Robinson.
- Fireworks erupted in an offensive third quarter as the teams seemingly went basket-for-basket throughout the period. Saint Elizabeth used an 8-0 run to tie the game and take a 41-37 lead before Adrianna Stricek (Fy., Harrisburg, Pa. / Trinity) and Hicks came back with a pair of buckets to tie the game once again. That turned into a 10-0 run after a 3-pointer from Samira Murphy (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va. / Great Bridge Christian) and a 3-point play from Yaya Cannon (Sr., Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) after she sank an and-1 free throw following a jumper with 1:26 left to make the score 47-41.
- Wilson ended up carrying a 49-43 lead into the fourth and was able to build up a 10-point lead early in the frame after Stricek and Cannon both hit a pair of free throws. However, the Eagles built up a run and eventually cut the deficit to 55-54 after a Chloe Medder layup. Robinson answered with a trey and Murphy hit a jumper to build the lead back up to six, but Saint Elizabeth closed regulation with a 6-0 run over the last 2:53 to send the game to overtime.
- In overtime, Cannon helped put Wilson up 68-64 after a jumper and grabbing a rebound before hitting Stricek in transition for a layup. Unfortunately for the Phoenix, Saint Elizabeth was able to keep them scoreless for the remainder of overtime. On the opposite end the Eagles took advantage from the free throw line where they scored six of their final eight points to decide the game.
Inside The Numbers
- The Phoenix had four players score in double figures as Stricek led the way with 16 points. She was a presence on the glass once again as she was a rebound shy of another double-double. Seven of them came on the offensive end which translated to eight points. She added four steals and three assists.
- Murphy finished right behind Stricek with 15 points. She was 6-for-11 from the field and was an absolute force on the glass where she pulled down 17 rebounds for her sixth double double. It's the fifth consecutive game she's pulled double figures in rebounds and her fourth double double in her last five games.
- Cannon finished with 14 points after she went 5-for-8 from the field. Robinson hit double figures for the second-straight game with 13 points.
- The Eagles were led by Destiny Battle who finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. Kolby Lynch added a double double with 10 points and 13 boards.
- Saint Elizabeth held a slight edge on the glass with a 53-52 rebounding margin, but Wilson was able to make the most of it on the offensive end and outscored the hosts 20-14 in second chance points.
- This is the third time in the last four games that Wilson and Saint Elizabeth have gone to overtime.
Conference Standings
- With Clarks Summit falling to Notre Dame, there is now a three-way tie for second place in the CSAC with the Phoenix, Eagles, and Defenders all holding a 12-4 conference record.
- With two conference games left in the regular season, Wilson knows it will continue to the postseason for the third time in the past four seasons.
- In addition to the Phoenix, five other teams have clinched playoff berths, but the seedings still have yet to be determined outside of Notre Dame who has clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
Up Next
Wilson will play its penultimate game of the regular season on the road when it travels to Rosemont on Wednesday. Tip-off with the Ravens is currently scheduled for 6 p.m.
