LANGHORNE, PA – The Cairn University Women's Basketball team hosted their home opener against Pratt Institute on Friday night as the back end of their tip-off tournament doubleheader, defeating the Cannoneers 83-53 in their home opener.
The first quarter saw seven lead changes as the Highlanders and Cannoneers fought back and forth in the first ten minutes of play. For Cairn (1-1), freshman guard Ella Quince (Morrisville, PA / Morrisville HS) took the lead on a made three and pair of free throws. Junior forward Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, NJ / Collingswood HS) tool her turn with two jumpers in the paint as Quince added another two pointer. Freshman guard Makayla Raines (Jonesboro, GA / St. Mary's Academy) got started on continuing to build on her standout performance from Wednesday night with a jumper to grow the lead to three. She would add a pair from the free throw line to increase the margin to seven and close the quarter on an 11-4 run, up 20-15.
Pratt (0-1) would get as close as one point as play opened up in the second frame until freshman guard Kenadi Austin (San Antonio, TX / John Marshall) got fouled on a jump shot, making the basket and sinking her free throw to restore the cushion. Sophomore Milán Bradley (Washington, D.C. / Loyola University New Orleans) put Cairn up six. After two Cannoneer free throws, both squads would suffer a four and a half minute scoring drought. As Pratt tried to catch up, freshman forward Amalia Vamvakitis (Waterford, MI / Mount Dora Christian Academy) knocked down her bonus free throws to take Cairn to the break, up 29-23.
Hinson got things rolling in the second half, finishing a layup on Cairn's first possession. Freshman Kayden Jeselskis (Baltimore, MD / Rosedale Christian Academy) buried a three as the Highlanders pushed the pace. Hinson and Raines each knocked down another shot to grow the lead to 12. Austin flushed back-to-back high arcing jumpers over leaping Pratt defenders to create some distance, now up 47-31. Hinson added five free throws and a layup in the closing seconds to give Cairn some breathing room ahead by 23 entering the final quarter.
It was all Cairn in the fourth, forcing Pratt to turn over the ball and drawing offensive fouls as they continued to score. Quince would hit the dagger from deep putting Cairn up six followed by a fast break layup that took the wind out of the Cannoneers' sails. Jeselskis knocked down a three for good measure and freshman forward Laryssa Robinson (Willingboro, NJ / Life Center Academy) got her first career points in the closing seconds on a fast break layup to close the action with Cairn's biggest lead of the night at 30 points. The Highlanders celebrated their first win of the young season by a final score of 83-53.
Hinson picked up where she left off last season, scoring a game-high 27 points and recording her 21st career double-double with 11 boards. Quince was next 14, shooting 50% from the floor, behind the arc, and from the free throw line. Raines provided twelve with a perfect night at the charity stripe. Austin was the fourth Highlander in double figures with eleven points on 4-6 shooting. Vamvakitis picked up seven rebounds using her minutes efficiently.
Cairn has a quick turnaround, facing off against the Cougars of Medgar Evers College on Saturday at 3 p.m.
