Lady Knights keep it close early, can’t keep up with Christendom
By Blake Myers
Knightly News Sports Reporter
On Saturday afternoon, the Central Penn Lady Knights fell to the Christendom Crusaders 77-59 in a marquee USCAA matchup at East Pennsboro High School in Enola.
Before the game, while speaking with Knights coach Stasia King, she mentioned, “It’s great to be home and be able to be in front of a home crowd.” When asked about the preparation for the game, she said, “We have worked hard on defense and being disciplined.”
In the first couple minutes of the game, the Knights and Crusaders found themselves locked in a seesaw battle as the score was 8-7 Knights. Throughout the first quarter, Knights freshman guard Ahane Robinson put on a show, scoring eight consecutive points for the Knights and totaling 17 first-quarter points, propelling them to an early lead.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lady Knights turned up the pressure in the first quarter, as Knights junior guard Sydney Bubb registered an emphatic block and made a coast-to-coast layup that would set the tone of the first quarter, making the score 23-14.
To start the second quarter, Christendom would come out firing on all cylinders, mounting a 10-0 run to start the period and putting the Crusaders in the lead. In the middle of the quarter, the Knights would heat up from behind the arc, hitting three 3-point baskets and going on a 9-0 run, capped off by a big 3-point shot by Bubb. Late in the half, the Crusaders would retake the lead, making it a 33-32 game going into the half.
Just like the beginning of the second quarter, Christendom started the second half with a strong 9-2 run that was capped off by a Mary Pennefather 3-point basket from way behind the arc to stretch the lead to seven. Midway through the third quarter, the Lady Knights would attempt to rally after two back-to-back Brandi Swinton layups.
While the Knights would rally, the Crusaders would start the pull away late in the quarter, thanks to another Pennefather 3-pointer. This put the Crusaders up by the score of 56-49 going into the final quarter of play. Pennefather registered 15 points in the third quarter alone, with two 3-point baskets and 5 points from the free-throw line.
In the fourth quarter, it was all Crusaders, as more of the same would occur. Christendom would continue to hurt the Knights from deep and build onto the lead, making the score 67-50 midway through the fourth quarter. Robinson, however, had a great quarter, putting up 10 points and continuing to rally the Knights, but it was not enough. The Christendom Crusaders would keep the Lady Knights quiet in the remaining moments of the game and win the game by the score of 77-59.
The Knightly News Player of the Game was Robinson, registering 32 points, eight rebounds and seven steals. Center Allison Yoder added 10 points and nine rebounds in the losing effort.
For Christendom, Pennefather poured in an incredible 48 points and added 11 rebounds, headlined by an astounding 10-of-13 from beyond the arc. Catherine Thomas added 17 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.
With the defeat, the Lady Knights fell to 7-8 on the season, while Christendom improved to 11-1.
The Lady Knights return to action on Jan. 18 versus Lehigh Carbon Community College, their first of five consecutive road contests. They return home to face Penn State Schuylkill on Feb. 8.