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GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – For the second time in as many games, the Cabrini women's basketball team has knocked off an opponent that it is currently looking up at in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) standings, this time outlasting rival Gwynedd-Mercy College in overtime, 66-62. The victory is the Cavaliers' second straight and fourth in the last five games, and snaps a three-game skid against the Griffins.
Freshman guard Brittany Sandone led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 5-for-11 from the field overall. Sandone also paired five assists with four rebounds.
Sophomore center Melissa Kudzmas matched a career-high with 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Freshman guard MaryKate McCann and freshman forward Annie Rivituso also scored in double figures, each tallying 11 points.
Junior guard Laura Caron led the Cavaliers' efforts on the glass, recording eight rebounds. McCann pulled down six boards.
The Blue & White nearly pulled off the upset in regulation, leading by as much as seven points with just 2:27 remaining. A lay-in from Kudzmas pushed the Cabrini advantage to 51-44 down the stretch.
However, Gwynedd-Mercy closed the second half on a 7-2 run that was capped off by a game-tying 3-point basket from freshman guard Lauren Smith with only 33 seconds left.
The Griffins carried that moment into the overtime period, scoring on each of their first two possessions and leading the Cavaliers 57-53 at the 4:18 mark.
Yet, Cabrini responded with 10 unanswered in securing a 63-57 lead with 1:55 remaining. Sandone sparked the spurt with consecutive 3-point baskets before Kudzmas capped it with a jumper and lay-in.
The Cavaliers extended their advantage to seven points, 66-59, with nine ticks left. Sandone scored eight points in the overtime.
The extra session game is the Blue & White's first since an 85-80 loss against GMC last season on Feb. 15, 2010. Cabrini's last win against the Griffins, a 78-67 decision, came in the 2009 CSAC Championship game.
Senior forward Stacy Judge led the Gwynedd-Mercy (13-7, 9-3 CSAC) attack with 11 points. Smith also reach double figures, scoring 10 points and gathering nine rebounds.
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Blue & White is in sole possession of fourth place in the CSAC South Division, trailing third-place Immaculata University by one game in the loss column. GMC sits in second place behind first-place Neumann University by two games.
Cabrini (8-13, 7-5) plays its first of three straight games at Nerney Field House on Thursday, Feb. 10 versus CSAC opponent Rosemont College. Game time against the Ravens is set for 6 p.m.
