HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 28, 2012) – The Cyclones fell behind early, then stormed back to win convincingly 66-52 over Cabrini College in a Colonial States Athletic Conference tilt.
Centenary used excellent second half shooting as a team and strong interior defense from senior Bridget McCann (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) to lead the Cyclones to their 13th win of the season (13-6) and seventh win in the CSAC (7-4).
The two teams played back-and-forth for the opening three minutes in which Cabrini held a minimal lead. The Cavaliers then opened the game up to a 21-7 lead by way of a 12-0 run as the game neared the midpoint of the first half. The Cyclones would regroup and tighten up the defense, holding Cabrini to just seven points in the final 13 minutes of the half.
With the Cavaliers holding a 24-12 lead with 10:45 to go in the half, Centenary went on a run of their own. The Cyclones forced eight turnovers leading to a 16 consecutive points, turning a 12 point deficit into a five point 29-24 lead with under two minutes in the half. The Cyclones grabbed the lead at the 3:38 mark on two converted free-throws by senior Jasmine Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) following a turnover by Cabrini leading to a layup from freshman Andrea Innis (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus). Centenary would head into the locker room with a 31-28 lead.
The second half saw Centenary stretch its lead methodically in the early minutes of the half. Junior Danielle Trucksess (Collingswood, N.J./Collingswood) drained one of her three, three-pointers of the half to put the Cyclones up 37-31. Trucksess and the Cyclones, who did not hit a three point shot in the first half, went 4-6 from long range in the second half as they took a stranglehold of the game.
The Cyclones were just as effective from inside the arch in the second half, as they shot just under 54 percent from the field, led by senior Jen Vasta (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) who struck for ten of her game high 18 points in the second half. Senior Hannah Ally (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) was strong from the field (4-8) and the foul line (6-7), contributing 14 points in the effort. Though she did not score a basket, McCann played a pivotal role in the game as the senior who need just 8 blocks to set the school record in blocks, aided the Centenary cause with two blocks and nine defensive rebounds.
Centenary opened up a ten point lead midway through the second half and never looked back as the Cyclones held a double-digit lead until the clock ran out. The win keeps Centenary just two games back of CSAC North leaders Marywood and Baptist Bible with games versus both opponents still to play. Centenary will step outside the CSAC for an independent game at Mount Saint Vincent on Monday, Jan. 30th before returning to CSAC play on Wednesday, Feb. 1st as the Cyclones host Cedar Crest College at 6 pm.