Home winning streak ends for Lady Knights

Cannot stop Lady Vikings in the paint

By Andrew Hunter

Knightly News Sports Reporter

andrew.hunter@mymail.centralpenn.edu

The Central Penn College Lady Knights fell to the Villa Maria College Lady Vikings by a score of 60-55 on Sunday afternoon in their home finale at East Pennsboro Area High School.

Before the game, the Lady Knights honored seniors Tahniyaah Jackson and Chanelle Perry, along with various staff members who helped the college on game day.

At the beginning of the contest, the Knights were off to a tough start, missing their first five shots and committing four turnovers that turned into eight points for the Vikings. Sidney Green ended the Knight’s drought with a 15-foot jump shot.

With three minutes left in the first quarter, the Knights started to click. They had key contributions from Victoria Roberts and Green, both getting steals and making momentum-shifting shots that helped the Knights end the quarter on a 10-0 run, leading 16-13.

After a technical foul between quarters on Vikings coach Michael McCarthy, Jackson sank one of the two technical free throws to start the second quarter. The Vikings then came out with a full-court press and forced four turnovers in the first two minutes.

Even with these turnovers, the Knights kept themselves in the game by responding each time they turned the ball over with a costly bucket. To end the first half, both teams played very good defense, ending with the Vikings leading 29-27.

In the second half, the Vikings again came out in a full-court press, but the Knights appeared to make halftime adjustments to counter. Jackson was a true leader and floor general to guide her teammates to limit their turnovers. Green also came out and carried over her play from the first half and was a true force on defense.

At the four-minute mark, sophomore Sydney Bubb hit an electrifying 3-pointer that sparked a turnover by the Vikings, leading to another bucket by the Knights. Not even a minute later, Bubb struck again with another 3-pointer. After these clutch shots from Bubb, the energy skyrocketed for Central Penn. The Knights held the Vikings to only two points in the final three minutes, helping them reclaim the lead at the end of the third quarter, 43-38.

The energy transferred to the fourth quarter for the Knights, quickly forcing three turnovers. Then, the Vikings responded with a corner 3-pointer for Mia McCarthy. Next time down the floor for the Vikings, McCarthy converted on another 3-pointer to put the Vikings within three.

Midway through the final quarter, the Vikings started to take advantage of their size inside, led by Talia Bush’s 19 rebounds, including eight offensive. This would help the Vikings take over the lead at the 4:50 mark. They would extend their lead to as large as five, but the Knights were never out of the game.

Jackson and Cayla Thomas had a pair of layups that would put the Knights within one, but the Vikings would convert on a tip-in from Bush to put their lead back up to three. After another costly turnover by the Knights, the Vikings pulled away after hitting free throws to ice the game. The Vikings won 60-55.

The Knightly News Player of the Game was Jackson, who had 15 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Bubb also added 16 points and four steals, while Green had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

The Vikings were led by Bush, who led all scorers with 19 points in addition to her 19 rebounds. The Vikings also had contributions from McCarthy, with 10 points, and Ellanda Francois, with 11 points.

The Lady Knights finish their regular season with a trip to Christendom on Thursday night. With their 16-8 record, they are still in the hunt for the postseason. The Knights finished their season 6-1 in home contests.

The Knightly News Media Club broadcast the game. Paul Miller and Tyler Coleman were on the call, with Kevon Davis producing the show. It can be found at the link below.

---

Hunter is The Knightly News’ sportswriter.

Comment or story idea? Contact KnightlyEditors@CentralPenn.Edu.

Edited by Professor Paul Miller and Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi, Knightly News co-advisers.