Renno, King dominate as Elizabethtown clinches No. 2 seed in Landmark with win over #18 Catholic

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ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- If there was a rebound to be gotten in Wednesday night's 65-57 win for the Elizabethtown College women's basketball team over No. 18 Catholic, it more likely than not found the hands of either DaniRae Renno or Jessica King. The pair each had monster double doubles for the Blue Jays to help their team clinch the No. 2 seed in the Landmark. Renno finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds while King recorded 13 points and 15 rebounds for Etown.

It was a close game throughout, and after Catholic (19-3, 10-3 Landmark) tied the game at 44-44 early in the fourth, Summer McNulty's three-pointer started off what would be an 11-0 run for Elizabethtown (19-4, 11-2 Landmark) that Emily Prowell capped off with a layup to make it 55-44 with 6:34 left in the game. It was the second consecutive basket down low for the sophomore. Lindsay Boyd and King also contributed to the run.

Etown was out early, 5-0, thanks to a three from Cyleigh Wilson and King's steal and layup in the first 40 seconds. The Cardinals responded with a 9-0 run to go ahead 9-5 and force an Elizabethtown timeout. Neither side led by more than four the rest of the first. Renno beat the buzzer with the layup as Jillian Nagy found the freshman for the bucket after a Catholic turnover with five seconds left in the period.

The Blue Jays were able to get their lead up to six a few times in the second, but the Cardinals never let themselves get too far behind. Renno converted back-to-back layups in the final two minutes of the half, but the final points came from the Cardinals. Etown took a 35-33 lead into the break.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the third quarter, each only producing nine points a side. The Blue Jays cleaned up on the boards, however, and nearly doubled up Catholic in the game, 54-29. Renno had seven of the Jays' nine third-quarter points and almost outscored CATHU herself. King earned her double double with five rebounds in the third after having eight in the first half. Renno had 13 and 10 by halftime.

Amelia Baldo turned an Etown turnover on their first offensive possession into two points, which tied the score up at 44-44. That's when McNulty drilled the three to start that 11-0 run.

The Cardinals were able to scale it down to five, but never got closer than that over the final five minutes. Elizabethtown took care of business from the foul line as Catholic began fouling. Renno, Taylor Huyck, and Christ each made a pair of free throws to close out the win. Nagy also hit a jumper with 47 ticks to go.

Etown's 54 rebounds were a season-best as Renno and King combined for 29, just as many as Catholic managed in the game. Prowell added eight points and four rebounds off the bench.

The women's basketball team will finish up the regular season at Susquehanna on Saturday, February 19, at 4 p.m.