Box Score (SIDEARM) | Box Score (Stat Crew)
GLENSIDE, Pa. — In late February the Elizabethtown College women's basketball team finished its season with a dominating victory at Arcadia. Wednesday night, the Blue Jays were back in Glenside for the start of Commonwealth Conference play, and once again they turned the Knights' gym into their playground. The visitors did their damage in the first half and came out with a 68-48 victory at night's end.
Balanced scoring from the 4-1 Blue Jays (1-0 CC) paved the way for another win, as the early season success continued. Jayci Scannapieco scored five of her team-leading 12 points in the opening minute and Elizabethtown had a 7-0 lead before the game was four minutes old.
Momentum continued to be on the Jays' side after a Jenna Cruthers basket for Arcadia (0-4, 0-1 CC). Freshman Cheyenne Stonerook surrounded Nadine Yunginger's 3-pointer with a pair of layups, Marissa Ferris finished off an "and 1" and Stephanie Ellwood also found the bottom of the net twice. When the dust settled after a torrid first 10 minutes, E-town had scored 21 of the first 25 points on its way to a 40-19 halftime lead. The 40 points marked the most in a half by the Blue Jays this season and the 19 points allowed ensured an opponent wouldn't hit 20 points in a period for the third straight half.
A commanding lead for the second consecutive game allowed E-town to play its bench without reservation in the second half, a blessing for a team with eight newcomers. The Blue and Gray also reaped the benefits of Stonerook's return. The freshman from Lewistown missed Monday's game due to injury, but put forth an 11-point, nine-rebound performance in just 19 minutes. Scannapieco also finished with nine boards, a new career-high.
Cruthers did her best to keep the score respectable for the Knights. She scored 15 of her game-high 21 points after the half and accounted for nearly half of her team's total scoring on the night.
Helping Stonerook take control inside was Ellwood. The 5-foot-8 senior scored 11 points on, ironically, 5-of-8 shooting for her second double figure output of the season. E-town held a 30-8 advantage in points in the paint and also forced 24 Arcadia turnovers which turned into 20 points.
Kendra Beittel added seven points, while Ferris had six and Katy Fogel five for the Blue Jays. Fogel also handed out six assists. Ferris, who came off the bench, was the biggest contributor to E-town outscoring Arcadia's bench by a whopping 22-0 count.
Christie Kershaw had 11 points and Christine Taylor 10 for the Knights, who only got time from seven players.
E-town welcomes No. 23 Messiah to Thompson Gymnasium Saturday for its conference home opener at 2 p.m.