(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Double-doubles by both
Adrianna Stricek (So., Harrisburg, Pa. / Trinity) and
Jewels Torres (So., York, Pa. / West York) helped Wilson overcome a strong Cairn squad in a pivotal United East Skye Division contest on Saturday. For Stricek, it was her 13th of the season as she shot a season-best 78.6% from the field, while Torres did it with points and assists for the first time in her career.
It was also Senior Day for the Phoenix who honored
Yaya Cannon (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic / Elizabethtown) prior to the game.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 83, Cairn 76
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 12-12, 11-6 Skye; Cairn 14-9, 9-7 Skye
How It Happened
- It was a tightly contested first quarter as the teams exchanged leads seven times and were tied five times. Back-to-back long distance jumpers by Cannon split a 15-all tie to give Wilson a 19-15 lead, but the Highlanders answered back in the way of Makayla Raines who hit double figures in the opening frame alone with 10 points. The Blue and White were able to take a one-point lead into the second thanks to a Mackenzie Caldwell-Degnon (FY, Rockville, Md. / Richard Montgomery) triple at the end of the period.
- The Phoenix heated up down the stretch of the second quarter by way of a 17-4 run to close the half with a 42-33 lead. Caldwell-Degnon sparked the opening with four of the first eight points during that stretch which all belonged to Wilson. Torres was also instrumental in the push with six points and an assisted on another. Laela Robinson (So., Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley) helped Wilson add another dimension to the offense with a 3-pointer from the top as well.
- An early Stricek layup gave Wilson an 11-point lead in the third before the Highlanders mounted a comeback that started with a 6-0 run as Taylor Hinson made a pair of buckets sandwiched around one from Raines. With just under three minutes left in the third, Raines scored again to cut the deficit to 51-48.
- At that time Wilson lit a fuse with a 10-0 run, its biggest of the game. Torres was a main catalyst as she set up three of the field goals starting with a layup by Stricek. Stricek added another bucket after a Highlanders turnover before Torres set up Allie Cullison (Jr., Westminster, Md. / Winters Mill) for a trey on the fast break which forced a Cairn timeout. After play resumed, Cullison made a steal which transitioned into Torres setting up another triple, this time by Caldwell-Degnon to give the Phoenix a 61-48 lead with 1:20 to go in the third.
- Torres wasn't finished as she opened the fourth with a layup on an assist from Stricek. The two switched roles less than a minute later as a Stricek hit a bunny in the paint for a 67-52 lead. The Highlanders didn't go quietly and rallied with a 22-7 run to tie the game with 2:15 remaining in regulation. Wilson was able to weather the storm as Stricek scored an unconventional 3-point play with a layup followed by an and-one free throw before Robinson drained another from behind the arc to make the score 80-74. Cairn was unable to get back within a possession from there.
Inside The Numbers
- Stricek led the Phoenix with 26 points and 16 rebounds. She did so while shooting 11-of-14 from the floor. Her 13th double-double leads the United East and is currently tied for 18th in Division III.
- Torres continues to impress as she recorded her first double-double on 15 points and a career-high 11 assists. She has now scored in double-figures in seven consecutive games and 11 of the last 12.
- The 11 assists are the most by a single player in at least the past 10 years. The 28 assists are the most since 37 were awarded in a win against Trinity Washington over five years ago. The previous single-game high during that span was nine by Kai Wyatt in a home win against Clarks Summit on January 26, 2019.
- Wilson shot .478 (32-of-67) for the game for its second-best shooting percentage this season.
- With the win, Wilson has now won seven of the last eight contests with Cairn, including the last four at home dating back to January 19, 2020.
For The Highlanders
- Cairn wasn't without fireworks as Raines led all scorers with 33 points after she went 9-of-24 from the field and 15-of-17 from the free throw line.
- Hinson posed problems underneath as she finished with 27 points and 19 rebounds for a double-double.
Up Next
With a playoff spot secured, Wilson now looks to the regular season finale against the top team in the Skye Division Notre Dame. Tip-off with the Gators is set for 7 p.m. on Valentine's Day.
