(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – For a second consecutive season, Wilson's season came to a close at the hands of Clarks Summit in the CSAC Tournament. This time the second-seeded Phoenix were hosting the third-seeded Defenders, but the Blue and Black struggled to find rhythm against a strong defense by the visitors.
The Basics
Score: No. 2 Wilson 56, No. 3 Clarks Summit 65
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: No. 2 Wilson 16-9, No. 3 Clarks Summit 18-9
How It Happened
- Clarks Summit jumped out of the gates early with an 8-2 lead after it made three of its first four attempts with a pair of 3-pointers. The Defenders led by as many as eight in the first quarter, but the Phoenix were able to cut the deficit down to three after a Samira Murphy (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va. / Great Bridge Christian) jumper and went into the second down 16-13.
- The Defenders again built their lead up to eight before Wilson closed the half on the upswing. Trailing 31-23 with 3:44 to go before halftime, Yaya Cannon (Sr., Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) generated some momentum with a layup. Free throws by Adrianna Stricek (Fy., Harrisburg, Pa. / Trinity) and Murphy then cut the deficit to three before Wilson closed within one after a Murphy basket made the score 31-30 at the half.
- In the third quarter, the Phoenix run extended to 9-0 as Laela Robinson (Fy., Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley) led off the frame with a jumper on an assist from Madison Ross (Sr., New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford). The Defenders were able to answer, however, and regained the lead just 40 seconds later on a Mia McCormick bucket. The Defenders ended up pushing their lead out to nine before Stricek beat the third quarter buzzer with a layup to make the score 49-42.
- After a Clarks Summit layup opened the fourth, Wilson made one final push. Free throws by Jewels Torres (Fy., York, Pa. / West York) opened up the comeback attempt and were followed by a Naomi Hanton (Sr., Bristow, Va. / Patriot) jumper. A free throw from the Defenders followed before a Murphy jumper put the score at 52-48 with 6:41 to go. Clarks Summit was able to counter and score the next eight points, its largest run of the game which resulted in its largest lead of the game. Wilson was only able to get back within seven after a Murphy 3-pointer, but it was too late as time ran out on the Phoenix's season.
Inside The Numbers
- Murphy finished the game with a team-high 17 points and 15 rebounds for her eighth double double of the season. With her first points of the game at the 6:58 mark of the first quarter, she became the most recent Phoenix player to join the 1,000 Point Club.
- Stricek joined her with a double double on 15 points and 13 rebounds. It was her 14th of the season.
- Cannon finished just shy of double figures with eight points. She filled up her stat line with four rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
For The Defenders
- Clarks Summit was paced by Elizabeth Singleton who finished with a game-high 24 points. She was 9-for-16 from the field and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead her team.
Up Next
The season concludes for the Wilson Phoenix with a record of 16-9. It's their first winning season since the 2018-19 campaign when they went 16-12. It's their best season since 2000-01 when they went 18-7.
