Central State Women's Basketball Falls to Cedarville, 72-67
In a hard-fought matchup on the road, Central State University came up just short, falling to Cedarville University, 72-67, on November 26, 2024. Despite a strong offensive effort, the Marauders couldn't hold off a strong second-half surge by Cedarville.
The game was a back-and-forth contest, with Central State leading by one at halftime, 37-28. The Marauders shot an efficient 53.2% from the field in the first half, including 63.6% in the second quarter. Zhieyah Rolack led Central State in scoring with 14 points, hitting 6 of 7 from the floor and adding 6 rebounds. Abbigail Peterson also contributed 10 points, with a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line, while Diamond Phillips added 8 points and 4 assists off the bench.
Cedarville's offense heated up in the second half, particularly in the third quarter, where they outscored the Marauders 25-16. Cedarville's Brianna Zajicek led the charge, finishing with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Teammate KaCee Kyle added 13 points, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, while Ella Sellars came off the bench to contribute 16 points in 20 minutes of play.
Despite Central State's best efforts, which included a late surge in the fourth quarter, Cedarville maintained their lead and capitalized on several key moments, including 21 points off turnovers and strong free-throw shooting, converting 11 of 17 attempts.
The Marauders struggled with three-point shooting, going just 1-5 from deep, and despite a solid 42 points in the paint, they couldn't overcome Cedarville's overall balance and second-half adjustments. Central State also won the battle in second-chance points (13-16), but it wasn't enough to secure the win.
With the loss, Central State falls to 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in the SIAC, while Cedarville improves to 3-4 overall. The Marauders will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup.
Key Stats:
Next up, the Marauders will look to bounce back as they continue their non-conference schedule.
