LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University women's basketball team lost, 63-58 at home against Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Notre Dame of Maryland University on Saturday evening, splitting the season series with the Gators.
 
Cairn (8-8, 6-5 CSAC) got off to a good start, jumping out to an 18-14 lead after one quarter and held a six-point advantage (25-19) with just over two minutes to play in the first half. Notre Dame (8-8, 8-4) closed the first half on a 6-2 run and trailed by a basket (27-25) at intermission.
 
In the third quarter, the Gators stifled the Highlander offense, holding them to just nine points in the period to take a 40-36 lead into the final frame. In that final period, the Gators got the lead to 11 (49-38) at its largest point and held a nine-point advantage with 29 seconds remaining. The Highlanders then started their comeback with back-to-back threes from seniors Dakota Hitchner (Ocean City, NJ / Atlantic Christian) and Markie Watson (Jupiter, FL / Holy Cross Academy) to cut the lead to just four (62-58) with 19 seconds left. However, Notre Dame (MD) collected an offensive rebound off a missed free throw at the other end to run out the clock and seal the victory.
 
Cairn shot 31.3% (21-67) from the field compared to 24.7% (19-77) for the Gators. Cairn also dished out 15 assists and totaled seven steals in the contest. The game came down to the rebounding department, with Notre Dame (MD) holding a 61-46 advantage on the glass, including 29 offensive rebounds. The Gators got to the charity stripe 26 times, converting on 21 of those opportunities (80.8%).
 
Cairn was led offensively by Hitchner, who scored a team-high 20 points to go along with five rebounds, five assists and a pair of blocks and steals. Hitchner was followed by freshman Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, NJ / Collingswood HS) who recorded her second-straight double-double (third in four games) with 12 points and 11 rebounds to go with a pair of blocked shots. Watson contributed 11 points, including three triples, while senior Korin Bradley (Levittown, PA / Bucks County Community College) added eight points and eight boards.
 
Cairn will be back in action on Friday, January 28 when it travels to Penn State Hazleton for a non-conference bout on the road at 7 p.m.