LANGHORNE, PA – The Cairn University Women's Basketball team tipped off Wednesday night's Skye Division action with the Clarks Summit University Defenders, picking up their second straight win, 74-52 as they go 4-1 in the last 5 games.
 
Clarks Summit (2-16 / 1-11 United East Skye Division) grabbed a lead out of the gate before junior forward Taylor Hinson (Carney's Point, NJ / Collingswood HS) scored nine straight points for the Highlanders to keep them within reach. Freshman guard Makayla Raines (Jonesboro, GA / St. Mary's Academy) followed with seven points of her own including a buzzer-beating triple to end the quarter with her squad down 19-18.
 
Raines came out firing in the second quarter, knocking down a three just seconds in to tie it up at 21 apiece. Freshman guard Ella Quince (Morrisville, PA / Morrisville) hit a jump shot and made both free throws on the next possession to allow Cairn (11-7 / 7-5 United East Skye Division) to start building a lead. Hinson added five unanswered points, including a three point play on an and-one layup to give the Highlanders an eight point lead. After a pair of free throws by the Defenders, Raines hit again from behind the arc. Freshman forward Amalia Vamvakitis (Waterford, MI / Mount Dora Christian Academy) got started in her scoring column with a three pointer as the lead climbed to eleven. Clarks Summit would make a few shots to cut into the lead, although Cairn took a 39-32 lead into the break.
 
Out of the break, Clarks Summit would fight back to tie and game and take the lead on a pair of threes in back-to-back possessions. Vamvakitis would then get fouled, making the layup and free throw to swing the momentum back in favor of the Highlanders. Hinson and freshman guard T'miya Bryant (Raleigh, NC / South Garner High School) teamed up for a pair of layups each. Cairn turned up the heat with a full court press, ending the third quarter on a 19-0 run, ahead 62-49.
 
The fourth quarter would be the story of Hinson, Quince, and Raines who each had four points in the frame as well as the work of the Highlander defense, holding Clarks Summit to only three points, a jump shot and single free throw as the match seemed to already be decided. Cairn would take this one by a final score of 74-52.
 
Hinson led the game with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Raines added 19 with three triples alongside 8 steals and 3 assists. Quince rounded out double-digit scorers as she put up 12 points and 11 rebounds, setting a new career-high with 9 steals.
 
The Highlanders commanded the paint, scoring 50 of their 74 points in the lane. The defense played well, forcing 39 turnovers resulting in 37 points and turning them into 26 successful fastbreak opportunities.
Cairn hits the road on Friday for their final non-conference contest of the season, heading to Brooklyn, NY to take on Pratt for the second time this year at 7 p.m.