LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University women's basketball team won, 59-50, at home in their Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) regular season finale against Saint Elizabeth University on Senior Day Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Highlanders are heading back to the postseason, clinching the sixth and final seed in the upcoming CSAC playoffs for the first time since 2019. Before Saturday's contest, the Highlanders celebrated their four seniors,
Dakota Hitchner (Ocean City, NJ / Atlantic Christian),
Korin Bradley (Levittown, PA / Bucks County Community College),
Markie Watson (Jupiter, FL / Holy Cross Academy) and Team Manager
Tasaday Pouncy (Coatesville, PA / Collegium Charter).
Saint Elizabeth (4-18, 4-14 CSAC) controlled the momentum early and held a 14-11 after one quarter of play. The second quarter proved to be a defensive-centric frame, as neither team eclipsed double digit points for the period and the Eagles held a 23-19 advantage at intermission.
Needing a win to qualify for the conference playoffs, Cairn (9-16, 7-11 CSAC) came out of the break on a mission, starting the quarter on a 13-7 run to take their first lead since the first quarter (32-30) at the 6:28 mark of the third. The Highlanders outscored Saint Elizabeth 24-10 in the period to take a commanding 43-32 lead heading into the fourth. The Eagles made it a game late in the fourth, cutting the deficit to four (50-46) with 3:57 to play. However, three clutch late-game buckets from Bradley, junior
Emily Minard (Columbus, NJ / Life Center Academy) and freshman
Tamia Warner (Ewing, NJ / Ewing) down the stretch helped seal the win and a spot in next week's conference playoffs for the Highlanders.
Cairn shot 32.8% (21-64) from the field compared to a 31.3% (21-67) mark for the Eagles. The Highlanders narrowly held the edge in the rebounding (48-45) and assists (14-11) departments.
Cairn was led offensively by Hitchner and freshman
Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, NJ / Collingswood HS) who each tied a team-high with 16 points. Hinson grabbed eight rebounds while Hitchner added six boards and tied freshman
Kailee Sobrino (Vail, AZ / Empire HS) with a game-high five assists. Warner collected the first double-double of her career with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, as well as a pair of blocks.
As mentioned, the Highlanders clinched the No. 6 seed in the upcoming CSAC Championship tournament. They will travel to No. 3 seed Notre Dame of Maryland University on Monday, February 21 in the CSAC Quarterfinals. Time is TBA.
