Langhorne, PA - The Cairn women's basketball team trailed by a single-point against the Keystone Giants at the half, but a strong start to the third-quarter put the Highlanders up 12 points with four minutes left in the quarter. The Giants came roaring back and pulled to within one point early in the fourth-quarter, but the Highlanders did just enough down the stretch to hold on for the 61-58 victory.
 
The win was the Highlanders first of the new year and they move to 5-10 on the season and 2-6 in the CSAC.
 
Madelyn Brodish stuffed the stat-sheet with nine points, 14 rebounds, seven blocks, and three assists in the victory. Payton Emerick collected a double-double with ten points and a game-high 15 rebounds. While Kendra Stum led Cairn with 14 points.
 
It was a close game throughout with the visiting Giants holding the upper-hand early in the contest. Keystone held a lead for a majority of the first-quarter. With 3:40 remaining the Highlanders trailed 10-7, but Cairn started a quick 9-0 with a three-point play by Kendra Stum. EJ Hartzler then propelled the run with a pair of threes to push the Highlanders ahead 16-10.
 
The Giants closed out the quarter with three buckets to tie the game at 16-16 heading into the second-quarter.
 
The second stanza was a little more back-and-forth between the Giants and Highlanders. Both teams held leads of at least three, but by the end of the half the Giants held a slim 31-30 advantage
 
That lead for Keystone quickly dissipated as the Highlanders bust out of the gate to start the second-half. Behind buckets from five Highlanders, including three from Charlotte Camp, Cairn took at 45-33 lead with a 15-2 run to start the half.
 
A jumper by Keystone's Hannah Zuchowski ended the Cairn run and started a 12-3 streak in favor of the visitors that brought the Giants within three at 48-45 heading to the fourth.
 
In the final quarter, the Giants pushed hard to tie the game, but the Highlanders held firm and answered the call every time they needed two. For every Keystone bucket down the stretch, it seemed the Highlanders had just enough to answer.
 
The Highlanders lead remained steady between two and four points the rest of the way. After EJ Hartzler connected on a free throw with 17 seconds remaining, the Highlanders led 61-58 and the Giants had a chance to tie the game with one possession left. The Giants missed a three but got the ball back after the ball went out of bounds off a Highlander.
 
After a timeout, the Giants inbounded the ball, but could not get a shot off as the horn sounded. As mentioned, Cairn picks up their first victory of 2017 and moves to 5-10 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
 
The Highlanders will next take the floor on Wednesday when they travel to Rosemont College.