EWING, N.J. – In an intense matchup against No. 20 Christopher Newport, the TCNJ women’s basketball team faced a challenging game on Wednesday, ultimately falling to the Captains with a score of 85-59.
Game Overview
The Lions (0-4) demonstrated an impressive start, quickly bouncing back from an early three-pointer by CNU. They surged ahead with a 20-8 lead, largely fueled by a series of exceptional plays from Katie Fricker, who scored nine points in a row. Leveraging their fast-paced transition game, TCNJ effectively countered CNU’s full-court pressure.
Key Moments
However, the Captains regrouped and managed to close the first quarter with a significant 13-1 run, evening the score at 21-21. They maintained momentum into the second quarter, scoring seven unanswered points to establish a lead. TCNJ managed to pull within two points twice, once at 31-29 on a three-pointer by Maddie Bernhardt and again at 33-31 following a lay-up from Brooke McFadden. Nevertheless, CNU ended the half on an 11-2 run, finishing with a 44-33 advantage.
Second Half Dynamics
The Lions faced a tough battle in the third quarter, falling behind by 16 points at 52-36. A strong response followed, as TCNJ outscored their opponents 18-6, narrowing the deficit to just four points at 58-54 with a triple from Fricker late in the period. However, CNU’s resilience shone through as they finished the third quarter with a 7-2 run, limiting the Lions to only three points in the final period.
Individual Performance
Fricker led TCNJ with an impressive performance, contributing 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Close behind her were Amanda Baylock with 16 points and Maddie Bernhardt, who chipped in 14 points and showcased her shooting skills by going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Looking Ahead
Following this matchup, the Lions will return to action on Saturday, welcoming Stevens to Packer Hall for a 2:00 PM game.
