Lady Knights play tough, succumb to second-half run by Berkeley
By Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser
On Sunday afternoon, the Central Penn College Lady Knights fell to Berkeley College 72-61 in a highly contested matchup at East Pennsboro Area High School.
The Knights got off to a strong start in the first quarter, behind six points from both Sidney Green and Allison Yoder. The team managed to play balanced ball throughout the first quarter, trailing by only one.
In the second quarter, Berkeley had an answer. Khya Hough, guard for the team, scored 13 points on 6-7 shooting from the field. Hough was on fire from the floor, with the Knights unable to do much to stop her.
For the Knights, Yoder continued to shine, chipping in eight of her 14 first-half points in the second quarter, continuing to be a force on the glass at both ends of the court.
Kamia Goodley hit an important 3-point basket for the Lady Knights off the bench, but they trailed going into the half by a score of 37-29.
In the third, Berkeley began to pull away, with Keisy Villanueva adding 12 points and three rebounds in that quarter alone. Villanueva and Hough scored all 23 of Berkeley’s third-quarter points, while Central Penn mustered only 13 points as a team.
With the Lady Knights trailing considerably, they managed to find some cohesiveness on the offensive and defensive sides. On offense, Cayla Thomas had a great quarter, scoring seven points and getting to the foul line with solid moves to the basket. Defensively, Goodley chipped in two steals and led the Knights to make it close midway through the fourth.
But Berkeley’s Hough was too much, adding nine points, to finish with a game-high 37 points. After a late-quarter Berkeley run, the game finished with a score of 72-61.
Villanueva stood out for Berkeley, contributing 18 points, 7 blocks and 8 rebounds.
Yoder was the Knightly News Player of the Game for Central Penn, with 22 points, 13 rebounds and four steals. Thomas added 13 points and three assists.
With the loss, the Lady Knights fall to 4-3 on the season. They will return on Dec. 1 to East Pennsboro Area High School to face Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo).