LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Women's Basketball finished the first half of conference play on Saturday, hosting Wilson College in a playoff rematch from last season. Despite a strong first half, Wilson came out on top, 80-65.
 
The Highlanders took a very quick 11-0 lead to start the matchup, started by junior guard Tatiana Ipri (Mullica Hill, NJ / Gloucester County Christian) with six points each from sophomore forwards Emily Brittin (Winslow, NJ / Pilgrim Academy) and Dezaray Bright (Keystone Heights, FL / Keystone Heights). Wilson (6-11 / 5-3 UNITED EAST) struggled to ignite their offense as the Highlander lead extended to fourteen as senior guard Kailee Sobrino (Vail, AZ / Empire) connected from three and on a fastbreak jumper on back-to-back steals by Bright and Brittin. The Phoenix cut into the lead as Brittin finished a layup after grabbing an offensive board. Bright was fouled with seconds remaining, knocking down both free throws as Wilson took a three at the horn, getting fouled and making all three free throws as Cairn (1-13 / 0-8 UNITED EAST) held the advantage 26-22.
 
A Wilson layup cut the lead to two to start the second quarter, tying the game with a deep shot as Brittin scored with Bright and Sobrino adding jump shots to get the lead to nine. Sophomore forward Audrey Elisondo's (Bethesda, MD / James I O'Neill High School) made the lead eleven with a jump shot and sophomore forward Laryssa Robinson (Mount Laurel, NJ / Life Center) tipping in an offensive rebound and free throw to reestablish the double-digit margin. A three and jump shot at the end of the half for Wilson gave them momentum down 44-37.
 
Cairn held onto the lead for the first five minutes of the third quarter as the Phoenix were on the hunt, taking the lead on a fastbreak layup and quickly building up a nine-point lead of their own. Bright and Brittin continued to pound the offensive glass but were of little avail at this point in the game until Bright worked for a layup and Elisondo added a three to stay within striking distance entering the fourth quarter behind 64-59.
 
The Phoenix opened the fourth on an 8-2 run through the first five minutes of clock as they built some distance with a pair of threes to open the frame. Sobrino made a floater from the paint before Wilson ran away with time on their side, taking the game 80-65.
 
Bright went for a career-high (and game-high) 22 points while completing the double-double grabbing 11 rebounds. Brittin also had a day with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds (the most by a Cairn player this season), nine of which came on the offensive glass, and four steals. Sobrino also had fourteen points.
 
The Highlanders will open up the second half of conference play on Wednesday as they head over to Valley Forge for a 5 p.m. tip off.