ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Seniors Taylor Bossert and Danika Brandt each scored 11 points to lead a balanced attack in a 63-52 road win for the Centenary University women's basketball team at Cedar Crest on Tuesday night.
Nine players scored at least two points in the game as the Cyclones picked up their fifth win of the season (5-2).
"I was happy with the way we started the game and with the effort in the first half," said head coach Rose Haller. "We lack the discipline to finish games which is something we need to work on."
The Cyclones quickly sprinted out to a 9-1 lead as Brandt hit a jumper at the 4:18 mark of the first.
A pair of three-pointers from freshman Kaylie Elsbree in the final 2:30 of the period gave Centenary a 17-7 edge after 10 minutes of action.
The Cyclones and Falcons traded points to start the second quarter. Bossert's triple with 5:02 to go until the half gave Centenary a 25-11 advantage.
A jumper from junior Devin Gibbs at the 2:55 mark put the visitors on top, 29-13.
Centenary closed the second period on an 8-0 run and took a 37-15 lead at the break.
The two teams continued to battle to start the third quarter. Back-to-back buckets from junior Carmen Escano and Bossert gave the visitors a 43-21 lead with 7:04 remaining in the period.
A pair of free throws from freshman McKayla Mooney at 5:12 put Centenary on top, 47-27.
Jumpers from sophomore Salma Eddahiri and senior Molly Collins to close out the third period gave the Cyclones a 53-36 lead with 10 minutes to play in the game.
Cedar Crest opened the fourth quarter on an 9-2 run and cut the Centenary lead to 55-45 with 6:13 to play in the game. Ashley Wilson scored seven in that stretch.
A jumper from senior Victoria Jacobs pushed the Centenary lead to 63-46 with 2:12 to go in the contest.
Cedar Crest closed the game on a 6-0 run but it was not enough as Centenary claimed the 63-52 win.
Centenary shot 41.3% from the field and was 5-for-6 from the foul line. Cedar Crest shot 30.4% from the field and was 16-for-19 from the foul line. Centenary held a 41-36 edge in the rebounding battle.
Bossert and Brandt each had 11 points in the contest while Bossert added five assists and two steals. Escano recorded her third straight double-double and fifth of the season as she finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Jacobs was the fourth Cyclone in double figures as she contributed 10 points.
Wilson led Cedar Crest with a game-high 28 points.
Centenary is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 4 when it travels to Cairn at 1 p.m. The Cyclones defeated the Highlanders 56-48 when the two teams met in Hackettstown in mid-November.