Lady Knights fall to ESAC rival Christendom

By Hannah Pasquarella

Knightly News Repoter

hannah.pasquarella@mymail.centralpenn.edu

The Central Penn College Lady Knights basketball team fell to the Christendom College Crusaders Thursday night by a score of 85-50 in an ESAC Conference matchup.

The Lady Knights, fresh from their first home win for head coach Stasia King, had momentum to make a late-season run. “[The win] was long overdue and an exciting feeling. The kids felt really good that they were able to defend their home court in front of their family and campus community,” King shared in a pre-game interview.

Even with that momentum, the Lady Knights were running into a juggernaut in Christendom College, as they entered the game with a 16-1 record and a #1 ranking in the USCAA polls.

In the first few minutes of the game, the Knights and Crusaders were in a seesaw battle, with the Lady Knights trailing 11-9. But the Knights were game in the first quarter, with solid defensive work by Knights center Allison Yoder and guard Nyree Roberson-Waters. With two minutes left in the first, Roberson-Waters hit back-to-back shots, cutting the lead the lead to five, 18-13, at the end of the quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, Christendom came out strong with a 7-0 run led by Mary Pennefather and Catherine Thomas. Pennefather had 15 points in the first half, including two key 3-point baskets. Thomas added 13 points in the first half, making a contested shot about four minutes into the quarter to help the Crusaders extend the lead to 16.

With five minutes left in the second quarter, Christendom Crusaders senior center Miranda Keller earned her 1000th career point. Keller, from Harrisburg, brought a significant number of fans to the game to see the accomplishment. In speaking with the family, Keller missed having the same opportunity in high school due to COVID-19. Because of this, her family noted how special this night was for her entire support system.

After a brief stoppage in play to announce the accomplishment, the Crusaders’ momentum did not stop. In the last minute of the second quarter, they went on a 5-0 run, led by guard Regina Bonvissuto with a solid layup and a 3-point shot. At the half, the Lady Knights trailed by 23, 45-22.

In the second half, the Crusaders began to pull away. Pennefather and Bonvissuto were remarkable from beyond the 3-point line, going a combined 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. 

Yoder would not give up for the Lady Knights, scoring seven points and five rebounds in the third quarter alone. Jayla Pearson came off the bench in the third to give the Knights a spark, scoring two baskets and registering two steals.

But Christendom was ultimately too much for the Lady Knights in the fourth. Pennfather continued her fantastic game, dropping two more baskets and showing her dominance.

With less than two minutes left on the clock, Central Penn point guard Cayla Thomas shot two back-to-back 3-pointers, giving the Knights some momentum toward the end of the game. But Christendom had built a large enough lead, and the game ended with a score of 85-50.

The Weis Knightly News Player of the Game was Roberson-Waters, scoring 16 points and five rebounds. Elsewhere for Central Penn, Yoder had 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while Cayla Thomas registered 10 points and three steals.

Christendom College had four scorers in double figures, led by Pennefather, who scored 29 points, adding 11 assists and eight rebounds. Catherine Thomas tallied 20 points and brought in five rebounds, while Keller had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

On the season, Christendom improved to 17-1, while the Lady Knights fell 5-9. Central Penn has only one home game remaining on the campaign, and will return home on Feb. 19 for Senior Night as they take on Cheyney.