Lady Knights keep in close in first half, fade in second half of loss
By Blake Myers
Knightly News Reporter
blake.myers@mymail.centralpenn.edu
On Friday evening, the Central Penn Lady Knights fell to the Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo Bobcats by the score of 92-59 in a USCAA contest played at East Pennsboro Middle School in Enola.
Before the game, in speaking with Lady Knights head coach Stasia King on the keys to victory, she mentioned, “We have to attack and stay poised on defense along with converting from the (free-throw line).”
The Lady Knights would start strong as freshman guard Ahane Robinson scored the first three points of the game to start the scoring. The Bobcats would respond with an 8-0 run, capped off by a contested layup from Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo guard Ashlynn Johnson.
After the first-quarter run by Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo, Robinson kept the Knights in the game with eight first-quarter points, making the score 16-12 in favor of the Bobcats after the first quarter of play.
The Knights and Bobcats would trade baskets early in the second quarter as the Knights attempted to keep the game close. Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo would then find themselves on the offensive side of the ball, ripping off a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 10 midway through the quarter.
In the second quarter, Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo center Chy Isom found herself in foul trouble, allowing the Knights to gain momentum. Lady Knights center Allison Yoder scored 7 key points in the frame, allowing the Knights to claw back into contention.
Late in the quarter, the Knights would battle back with a 6-0 run of their own, capped off by a layup by Yoder, exciting the crowd and signaling a shift in momentum. Going into the half, the score was 36-30 in favor of Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo.
To start the second half, the Bobcats would turn on the pressure as they would go on an early 9-0 run to extend the lead to 15 early in the third quarter. More of the same would come as the Knights struggled to hold onto the ball, amassing nine turnovers in the quarter.
Isom was critical for the Bobcats in the second half, adding 7 points and snagging 8 rebounds in the third quarter alone. Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo would capitalize on the Knights’ turnovers, building their lead to 66-40 going into the final quarter.
In the fourth, more of the same would come for the Knights, as Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo continued to score at a high rate and played stellar defense. Bobcats forward Treanna Blenman was stellar in the final frame, scoring 6 points and pulling down 3 rebounds.
Midway through the quarter, the Bobcats continued to play shut-down defense, creating their largest lead of the game, 85-53. Late in the fourth quarter, the Knights attempted to battle back, with Robinson scoring 6 points for the Knights in the final period. Still, the Bobcats held them in check as the Lady Knights would lose by the final score of 92-59.
The most significant aspect of the game that seemingly caused the Knights to fall was their turnovers, committing 32, leading to 36 Bobcat points off of these turnovers. Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo also dominated in points in the paint, with a 52-20 advantage in that category.
For Bryant & Stratton – Buffalo, four players scored in double figures, led by Saige Roberts and Ja’Da White-McConnel with 15 points each. Isom added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
For Central Penn, the Knightly News Player of the Game was Ahane Robinson, who scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Asante Amos also chipped in 10 points in the losing effort.
The Knights fell to 4-4 after this contest, including 0-4 at home. They will travel to the College of Southern Maryland on Monday and return home for a contest against Centenary (NJ) on Thursday at East Pennsboro High School. That contest starts at 8 p.m.