Langhorne, PA – Cairn women's basketball improved to 4-6 in the conference Wednesday night after a 60-55 defeat of Summit University. The Highlanders built a 30-15 halftime lead and held off the charging Defenders down the stretch.
 
The Highlanders tied their season-high for field goals made (26) and attempted their second-most number of field goals this season (73). Furthermore, Cairn beat their previous season-low number of turnovers in the game with just 10.
 
Aigner Bookard led the team with her season-high of 19 points; she also led the team in steals with seven. Bookard was followed by a pair of double doubles from Kendra Stum and Payton Emerick. Stum finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Emerick put up 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
 
Torri Erdman led all scorers in the game with her 22 points. Carissa Erdman and Callie Kitowski each added 12 points to the mix for the Defenders.
 
After leading by 15 points going into the halftime break, the Highlanders started getting caught up by the Defenders in the second half. The Defenders cut the lead down to seven at one point in the third quarter and as little as two points in the fourth quarter.
 
Despite the pressure from the Defenders, The Highlanders' leader Amie Eppolito was able to step up to the plate when she needed to and score her only five points of the game in the final 4:13 of the fourth quarter.
 
Cairn stayed in front by making free throws, which accounted for their last five points of the game. The Highlanders went 7-10 overall at the free-throw line; nearly all of them made when they counted the most.
 
With the win, the Highlanders improved to 5-14 overall and 4-6 in the conference. Summit dropped to 3-10 overall and 1-8 in the conference with the loss. Cairn will next play at Gwynedd Mercy University this Saturday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m.