Cardinals Put Up Great Fight Against #1 Essex

In a classic rivalry showdown, the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals women's basketball team played an admirable game against #1 ranked CCBC Essex, falling 94-64.

Despite having lost the game, the Cardinals (6-5) outplayed the Knights (16-0) in the first half, leading the game after the first quarter and only trailing by four entering the half. The second half saw Essex flash their #1 ranking, outscoring the Cardinals by 26 points en route to their sixteenth straight victory.

Catonsville opened the contest with a strong defensive stand, holding Essex's leading scorer Faith Blackstone scoreless in the first. Trailing 8-4 early in the quarter, the Cardinals slowed the pace of the game to force the Knights to play to their level. The strategy worked, as the Knights struggled to find the basket while Catonsville slowly crawled back into the lead. Sophomore guard Destiny Perry (Sparrows Point) made it a one-point game with five minutes to go in the quarter, then gave the Cardinals the lead after stealing the inbound pass and finishing it off with a flourish.

Freshman guard Mya Franklin (Newtown) made it a 22-16 lead for the Cardinals after scoring a last-second three-pointer at the end of the first quarter. Essex began to fight back in the second, though Catonsville wouldn't let them open up a major lead. The Cardinals used a pair of technical fouls to retake the lead, then extended it with a three-pointer by sophomore guard Amaree McKnight (National Christian Academy). It would be the last lead of the game for the Cardinals, as Essex retook the lead at the half.

The second half was a completely different vibe for the Cardinals. Essex flashed the brilliance that got them the #1 ranking in NJCAA Division II, holding the Cardinals to just ten points in the third while opening up a 67-45 lead. The Cardinals fought valiantly but were unable to overcome the scoring onslaught by the Knights in the fourth. Six Knights scored in double digits en route to a 30-point victory. 

McKnight ended the evening with 19 points, five rebounds, and a pair of blocks. Freshman guard Ahna Thomas (Bowie) ended the evening with 19 points and four rebounds, while freshman forward Kayla Cabbagestalk (Chesapeake) gobbled up a massive 17 rebounds. Perry added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals in an excellent night for herself.

Next up for the Cardinals is a home match against Anne Arundel Community College next Wednesday.