CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – The Giants' bid at a title repeat fell just short Saturday afternoon after Clarks Summit slipped away from Keystone, 82-71, in the Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship game at Huckaby Gym.
In a contest that saw seven lead changes with three ties, the Defenders took a one-point lead into the final quarter before ultimately pulling away to their largest lead of 14 points for the victory and their first CSAC Championship in school history.
Reigning CSAC Player of the Year Elizabeth Singleton scored 10 of her 26 total points (on 11-of-28 shooting) in the final period. She was named CSAC Championships tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Giants held their largest lead of seven points through the end of the first quarter, but CSU fought back to take a seven-point lead of its own in the second period. Keystone once again swung momentum in its favor to end the first half with a two-point advantage. Both teams played to a stalemate in the third quarter, combining for just six field goals, before the Defenders pulled away in the fourth period.
It was Clarks Summit's first championship game appearance since falling short in the 2011-12 title game.
It was Keystone's third consecutive championship game appearance after having won its first conference title at the end of the 2019-20 season as it was looking to go back-to-back after the 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COIVD-19 pandemic. The Giants also finished as runner-up in the 2018-19 season.
Outstanding Performers
- Bella Lamonea (Glendora, Calif./South Hills) led the Giants with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting (64.7 percent) with four 3-pointers and five assists. The All-CSAC First Team selection sparked a late second-quarter 11-0 run to flip a three-point deficit into a five-point lead.
- Mac Oribello (San Diego, Calif./Westview) put up 17 points with five splashes from beyond the arc.
- Lee Gordon (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Wood) had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assist and two steals. The CSAC Honorable Mention scored half of the Giants first-quarter points on 5-for-7 shooting. The senior briefly exited the game during an injury timeout in the second period before returning to action.
- Singleton was held to just one point in the first and third quarters but exploded for 16 points in the second quarter on 7-of-9 shooting. She tallied 11 rebounds for a double-double.
- Torri Laman finished with a double-double for CSU on 22 points and 14 assists. Sixteen of her points came in the second half.
- Randie Traxler hit four shots from long-range on the way to finishing with 18 points — 10 of them coming in the final quarter.
Inside The Box Score
- Facing a seven-point deficit, the Defenders opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run through nearly the first four minutes of play, shooting 6 of 9 from the field while Keystone was 0 of 6.
- The Giants late second-quarter scoring run was assisted by steals from Oribello and Gordon, leading to four fast-break points scattered between 3-pointers from Lamonea and Megan Weber (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport Area).
- Clarks Summit outscored the Giants, 6-2, to start the second half and flip a four-point deficit into a two-point advantage. The Defenders later surged on a 17-7 scoring margin through the midway portion of the fourth quarter as they shot 7 of 7 from the field while the Giants were 3 of 9 during that span.
- Keystone got to the free-throw line seven times, making on just three of the attempts. Clarks Summit shot 14 of 22 at the charity stripe. The Defenders had seven personal fouls compared to Keystone's 17.
- CSU dominated inside with a 46-25 rebound margin 40 points in the paint compared to Keystone's 22.
What's Next
Clarks Summit will represent the CSAC in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.
