TCNJ Women’s Basketball Falls to Arcadia in Season Opener

The TCNJ women’s basketball team started their 2025-26 season at home against Arcadia on Saturday afternoon. The Lions fought hard but lost 87-75 to the Knights.

Several TCNJ players stood out, but Arcadia’s sharp shooting and clutch plays made the difference. Let’s dig into the highlights, key players, and some stats from this season opener.

Game Recap: A Tale of Two Halves

Sophomores Maddie Bernhardt and Amanda Baylock dominated the opening quarter, combining for the Lions’ first 15 points. Bernhardt scored eight, Baylock added seven, and TCNJ took an early 15-11 lead.

Arcadia answered with a 10-2 run to close the quarter and led 21-17 at the break. That momentum shift felt tough for TCNJ fans to watch.

First Half Highlights

Bernhardt kept rolling in the second quarter, dropping 11 of her career-high 22 points. Layups from Olivia Magee and Izzy Augustine helped TCNJ tie things up at 34 by halftime.

Both teams traded buckets in a lively first half. Offenses were really clicking on both sides.

• Bernhardt: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
• Baylock: 19 points
• Augustine: 19 points, 17 in the fourth quarter

Second Half Struggles

The second half opened with both teams exchanging baskets. Katie Fricker hit both free throws to tie it at 43.

Arcadia then rattled off an 8-0 run, suddenly pulling ahead by their biggest margin of the night. Delaney Bell and Anastasia Bowman powered the Knights, stretching the lead to 10 late in the third quarter.

Baylock tried to swing the momentum back with a solo 5-0 run, cutting it to 56-51. But Bowman answered with a layup, and Arcadia led 58-51 heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter Fight

TCNJ came out swinging in the fourth, with Fricker knocking down a three and Augustine finishing a tough layup to make it 60-56 with just over eight minutes left. Augustine really turned it on, scoring 17 of her 19 points in the final quarter.

Despite the push, TCNJ just couldn’t get past Arcadia’s hot shooting and timely stops. The Lions fell 87-75 as the Knights closed it out at the line.

• Field Goal Percentage: TCNJ 37.5%, Arcadia 56.9%
• Three-Point Percentage: TCNJ 32.3%, Arcadia 56.3%
• Free Throws: TCNJ 11-15, Arcadia 20-26

Standout Performances

Maddie Bernhardt led TCNJ with 22 points, six rebounds, and two assists—career highs across the board. Amanda Baylock also hit a career-high with 19 points.

Freshman Izzy Augustine made a splash in her debut, scoring 19 points, with 17 coming in the fourth quarter. Myah Hourigan-Hutton led the team in assists with three and tied Bernhardt for the most rebounds.

Arcadia’s Key Players

Delaney Bell was a force for Arcadia, pouring in 33 points on 13-20 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds for a double-double. Taylor Koenig added 19 points, Anastasia Bowman had 12, and Hanna Rhoades chipped in 11 points and six assists.

Inside the Box Score

The numbers tell a clear story. Arcadia shot a blistering 56.9% from the field and 56.3% from three, while TCNJ managed 37.5% and 32.3%.

Arcadia also made the most of their free throws, going 20-26. TCNJ hit 11-15 from the line. The Lions did turn 16 Arcadia turnovers into 13 points, but it just wasn’t enough to close the gap.

• Turnovers: Arcadia 16, TCNJ 13 points off turnovers
• Rebounds: Arcadia 12 (Bell), TCNJ 6 (Bernhardt, Hourigan-Hutton)
• Assists: Arcadia 6 (Rhoades), TCNJ 3 (Hourigan-Hutton)

Looking Ahead

This loss gave Arcadia its first win in five tries against TCNJ. That’s going to change the vibe for their future matchups, no doubt.

The Lions learned a lot from this game. They spotted a few things they’ll want to work on before their next outing.

TCNJ heads out on the road Friday, November 14, to play 11th-ranked Trinity. Tipoff’s at 5 p.m.