LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University women's basketball team lost, 70-53, at home in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) contest against the No. 1 team in the conference standings, Clarks Summit University on Wednesday evening. Before the game, the Cairn Athletic Department took the time to honor senior Dakota Hitchner (Ocean City, NJ / Atlantic Christian), who scored her 1000^th career point last month.


 
Cairn (8-10, 6-6 CSAC) fell behind Clarks Summit (17-3, 13-0 CSAC) early, trailing 17-10 midway through the first. However, the Highlanders fought back, going on a 7-0 run to close out the period, which included five points from freshman Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, NJ / Collingswood HS). The Defenders did not trail at all in the second quarter, extending their lead to 10 (33-23) with ninety seconds left in the half. Cairn cashed in the final two buckets of the period and trailed 33-27 at intermission.
 
The third quarter belonged to the Highlanders, as they got their first lead of the contest at 38-37 after rattling off an 11-4 run over the first seven minutes of the third quarter. The Highlanders were at a slight disadvantage against the CSAC favorites at the end of the third stanza (41-40). Unfortunately, the final ten minutes belonged firmly to the Defenders, as their high-paced offensive style got hot, igniting for 29 points in the fourth and outscoring the Highlanders by 16 (29-13) in the period as Clarks Summit remained unbeaten in CSAC competition.
 
Cairn shot 33.9% (19-56) compared to 39.4% (26-66) for the Defenders. The Highlanders held the top three-point shooting team in the conference to just a 29.6% (8-27) mark from long range and out-rebounded the Defenders 48-33. Clarks Summit won the game, uncharacteristically, in the painted area, topping the Highlanders 36-18 in that area.
 
Cairn was led by Hinson and Hitchner, who each posted a team-high 17 points. Hinson notched her seventh double-double of the season, adding 13 rebounds and shot seven-for-15 from the field. Hitchner also recorded a double-double, her third of the season, grabbing 11 boards. Freshman Kailee Sobrino (Vail, AZ / Empire HS) finished in double figures with 11 points, while senior Markie Watson (Jupiter, FL / Holy Cross Academy) dished out a team-high four assists.
 
Cairn will be back in action on Friday, February 4 when it concludes its non-conference schedule at home against Penn State Brandywine at 5 p.m.