WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Central State pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Cedarville, 62-52, in a non-conference Greene County clash at Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium.
Brianna Zajicek totaled 14 points and eight rebounds for the Jackets, 1-2.
Emma Kay Martin scored 12 points and
Jenna Sandel contributed eight points and eight boards.
CU scored the first seven points of the game. However, the Marauders responded with a 15-2 run and finished the period with a 17-11 lead.
The visitors charged back for a 42-40 lead on a Sandel layup with 3:05 left in the third quarter.
It remained close with CSU clinging to a 50-49 margin with 3:37 to go, but a 12-2 spurt clinched the outcome for the hosts, who were playing their season opener.
Quotable: Head Coach Addy Miller
"We are very disappointed in our execution tonight. Our team competed with intensity on the defensive end and showed real toughness, but we simply could not find our rhythm offensively and struggled to knock down shots. At this level, the margin for error is small, and our inability to finish plays made the game an uphill battle from start to finish.
"Still, this group has the potential to respond the right way. We are challenging our players to continue growing mentally, to stay above the line, and to take ownership of the habits that lead to consistency. Tough nights can either define you or develop you, and we are choosing the latter. We will learn from this, we will get better, and we will come back ready to compete."
Five Facts:
- Sandel's eight rebounds was a career-high and her eight points matched her career best.
- Each team committed 14 turnovers and CU outscored the hosts 14-13 off of TO's.
- The Jackets also scored more points in the paint, 26-24.
- Central State had a slim rebounding edge, 39-38.
- Cedarville leads the all-time series, 29-19, which began in the 1962-63 season.
