GLENSIDE, Pa., Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011-- A 9-0 run for Elizabethtown College to open up today's Commonwealth Conference women's basketball regular season finale at Arcadia University proved too much for the Knights to battle back from, as the Blue Jays shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and 51.7 percent for the game to take a 77-42 win over the Arcadia for a chance at the final league playoff berth. However, a win would not be enough for the Blue Jays, as Albright's 72-33 loss at #2 Messiah ended their hope for the final post-season berth which goes to #4 Alvernia who lost to league leader #1 Lebanon Valley 87-34. Widener holds onto their #3 seed for the Commonwealth Conference Tournament which begins Wednesday, Feb. 23.
Despite the loss for Arcadia, the Knights were fittingly led by the team's two seniors who were recognized prior to tip-off, playing in their final collegiate game. Corrine Geiger '11 paced Arcadia with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots while Kelly Donohue '11 added 10 points, 3 boards, 2 assists and a steal. Geiger finishes her career as the program leader in blocked shots with 86. Donahue ends her career on the hardwood with 200 points over three seasons and will finish out her final season as a member of the women's lacrosse team this Spring.
The Knights, who shot just 6-30 from the field in the opening half, were held scoreless until 14:35 when Angie Adams '13 sank a three from the top of the key with Etown in front 9-3. Donahue iced a three from the left side at 12:59 (6-13 Etown) and a jumper from Law at 11:57 made it a five point game with Etown holding onto a 13-8 lead. That spark for the Knights was ended when Etown's Megan Strohman banked a one-handed runner in the lane in to put the Blue Jays up 12 at 10:39. With a basket by Arcadia's Jess Campbell '14 and another three from Adams however, the Knights were right back to within 7 (13-20) with nine minutes to play in the half. And although the Blue Jays would commit 7 turn-overs in the final nine minutes of play, the Knights could not get one to fall, going 1 for 14 in that same span to settle for a 19 point deficit at the break, 35-16. Adams led Arcadia with 6 first half points but the Knights defense had trouble containing Etown's Kaity Snyder, who finished the first half with 12 points and 7 rebounds en-route to game highs in points (23) and rebounds (13).
The Knight's offense saw improvement in the second, shooting 34.3% but the Blue Jays never lost their momentum, remaining in front by a twenty-point margin for the final 18 minutes of regulation. Etown, who sweeps the season series against Arcadia, finishes the regular season at 14-10 overall and 6-8 in the Commonwealth. The Knights conclude the 2010-11 season at 7-18 overall and 1-13 in Commonwealth play.
Jackie Law '13 pulled in a team high 11 rebounds along with 4 points and 3 assists for Arcadia with Adams finishing with 7 points and 4 caroms. Campbell added 3 points and Krista Hsu '14 finished with 2 points, 2 boards, 2 steals and dished out 3 for the Knights. Along with Snyder's 23, Kelly Sauerzopf scored 14, Stephanie Ellwood 12 points and 11 boards and Strohman 11 for Etown.
