HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Feb. 4, 2017)- Junior
Rachel Edwards (Phillipsburg, N.J. / Phillipsburg) came off the bench to finish with a career-high 27 points as the Centenary University women's basketball team extended their winning streak to six games with a 73-53 victory over Neumann University on Saturday afternoon.
Senior
Melissa Rabe (Byram, N.J. / Lenape Valley) posted her second straight double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Cyclones who improve to 17-4 overall and 10-2 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Nafisa Saunders finished with 22 points and eight rebounds for the Knights who fall to 14-7 overall and 9-3 in the CSAC.
Centenary shot the ball extremely well in the opening stanza, posting a 57.1% from the floor including a 71.4% in the second quarter alone. Edwards pumped in 14 points, while Rabe added 10 points and seven boards. The Cyclones used a 19-8 run over an 8:32 span to take their largest lead of the half at 27-14 with 4:12 remaining. Centenary maintained a 38-23 advantage at intermission.
In the second half, Neumann had a tough time closing the gap from the first half as Centenary ballooned their lead to as large as 24 points. Edwards went 6-for-10 from the floor and totaled another 13 points as the Cyclones coasted to victory.
Senior
Mallory George (Berkeley Heights, N.J. / Governor Livingston) totaled 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while junior
Amber Reisenwitz (Cresco, Pa. / Pocono Mountain East) totaled eight points and five rebounds. Junior
Nicole Cartaino (Midland Park, N.J. / Midland Park) grabbed seven boards, while junior
Julia Presant (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East) chipped in with four points, three rebounds and three assists. AAliya Hayes finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Mariah Maciejewski totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
The game had a positive outcome for both sides as both Centenary and Neumann clinched a spot in the postseason along with Marywood who clinched the first spot last week.
Head Coach
Rose Haller and the Cyclones will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 8
th, hosting the Pacers of Marywood University at 6:00 p.m.