For the first time in program history, a nationally ranked Cedarville women’s basketball team hosted a home game. Placed 25th in the USA Today Division II women’s poll, the Jackets handily defeated Salem International University, 71-49.
Cedarville leapt out to a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes and never looked back. The Tigers, winless on the season, only had one player on the bench, and trailed, 34-17, at the half.
The Lady Jackets were not as dominant in the paint as they have been this season. Their post players missed easy shots, and turnovers were a problem as well. Nonetheless, at the half, seven players had scored. Raegan Ryan had five points and four rebounds. Regina Hochstetler led all Cedarville players with nine points in the first half, and Taylor Vander Plas dished out five assists.
Rebounding was an advantage for the Jackets in this contest; they out-rebounded Salem International 45-30. In the first half, Deborah Gordon, Emily Williams, and Ryan’s backcourt mate Kaysie Brittenham each had four rebounds.
In the second half, the Lady Jackets did not slow down. Freshman guard Abby Wolford scored all of her 13 points in the second half. The lead grew to as much as 30, and the Jackets cruised to the easy win, 71-49.
Wolford and Ryan led the team with 13 points each, and Hochstetler added 11. Vander Plas had seven points and seven assists, and Williams scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds, a team-high. Brittenham had a game-high six steals.
The Jackets shot 49 percent from the field and 44 percent behind the arc. They also assisted on 22 of 28 made baskets, but they turned the ball over 20 times.
The win moves the Cedarville to 25-3 on the season, and 13-1 in the G-MAC, while the Tigers fall to 0-25. The Lady Jackets’ final regular season home game will be Feb. 26, 7 p.m., against Ursuline.
Dave Guidone is a junior social studies education major and sports reporter for Cedars. His hobbies include eating, snacking, shooting hoops and laughing. Hebrews 13:8.
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