Miller's Double-Double Propels Cranford Past New Providence

On Thursday night the Cranford Cougars traveled to New Providence to face the Pioneers for the second time this season. Led by Morgan Miller who ended the game in double figures in points and steals, the Cougars moved to 12-3 on the season.

The Cougars jumped out to an early 11-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Jenna Goeller opened the scoring for Cranford. After getting fouled in the lane, she sank both freebies to put the Cougars up 2-0. Morgan Miller dropped one in from downtown off an assist from Mairead McKeary. Miller followed up with a beautiful inlet pass to Kaitlin McGovern who finished the play for two. Miller then got two of her own off an assist from Jess McCoy. McKeary closed out the scoring for the quarter with a layup off of a pass from Miller.

Some solid scoring got the Cougars on the board, but it was aggressive defense that set the tone. The Cougars caused the Pioneers to turn over the ball eight times in the first four minutes with Miller accounting for four steals.

In the second quarter, New Providence came alive, outscoring Cranford 10-8 to close the score to 19-14 at the half. Cranford's defense continued to make life difficult for the Pioneers with Miller snatching two more steals and Goeller taking one away as well.

Offensively, McCoy got on the board with a pair of buckets off of assists from Meg Pringle and Kaitlin McGovern, and Mcgovern struck again with a beautiful move under the basket for two. Miller finished up the scoring for the Cougars in the quarter with two from the charity stripe after being fouled in the lane.

The Cougars wasted no time getting back on the board in the second half, with McCoy dropping another two in the opening seconds. The Pioneers picked up their game at that point, converting three Cougar turnovers into seven points, tying the game. The New Providence fans started getting into the game as the Pioneers looked to move ahead, but Morgan Miller put the Cougars back up by two with an unassisted drive to the basket. McCoy followed with another two points off of a McGovern pass. Miller and Goeller each dropped one in from long range, and McCoy added a putback to put the Cougars up 33-21 at the end of three.

The fourth quarter had the Cougars firmly in control of the game, but still showed some back and forth. Miller added another two points from the charity stripe and McCoy added points off of an assist by Kerri Wischeusen. Kaitlin McGovern and Mairead McKeary added a bucket apiece to finish off the scoring and give the Cougars at 43-35 victory over the Pioneers.

The Cougars take the court against Johnson on Friday at 4:00pm at Cranford.