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RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini College women's basketball team battled through one of its worst offensive performances of the year, but after 40 minutes, the Cavaliers can again call themselves “Champions”.  The Blue and White captured the program's sixth Colonial States Athletic Conference title tonight, with a 49-38 win over the visiting Gwyned-Mercy College Griffins.  With the win, Cabrini will make its seventh appearance in the NCA Tournament.

The victory improves the Cavaliers to 24-4, matching the 1994-95 Cavaliers for most wins in program history.  It also extends the Blue and White's win streak to a program record 19 games.   With last night's men's title, the 2012-13 teams join Cabrini's 1992-93 and 1994-95 teams as the only men's and women's CSAC teams to win the conference basketball titles in the same season.

The title also represents a program turnaround for Cabrini's juniors and seniors, along with fourth year head caoch Kate Pearson.  Three years ago, a club featuring 11 freshman and sophomores finished the campaign with a 10-15 mark and missed the conference postseason for the first time in 17 seasons.  Since then, Pearson has developed the program, led by seniors Laura Caron and Melissa Kudzmas and juniors Maggie McElroy, Annie Rivituso, Brittany Sandone, Colleen Stewart, into champions.

Junior Annie Rivituso claimed Most Valuable Player honors with 11 points and nine rebounds.  Fellow junior Brittany Sandone posted a game high 14 points, including 4-8 from three point range.  Freshman Dana Peterson added eight points, including a pair of first half three pointers.

While both clubs have been known to put up a lot of points, this championship game was a defensive battle from the opening tip.  Both teams struggled early as the game remained scoreless until four minutes in when Gwynedd-Mercy's Jordan Dominic hit a three pointer.  After a pair of offensive boards, Rivituso's lay-up got the Blue and White on the board.  The Cavaliers forced a Griffins turnover on their next possession followed by Sandone's first triple of the game.  It was a lead the Cavaliers would maintain for the rest of the game.

The Griffins tied the score at 5-5 but Peterson's three pointers sandwiched a Gwynedd-Mercy free throw, giving Cabrini an 11-5 lead midway through the first half.  Minutes later, a pair of Sandone threes extended the lead to 17-9.  Gwynedd-Mercy cut the lead back to four, but the Cavaliers closed the first half on a 5-0 run, anchored by sophomore Megan Decker's runner off the glass at the halftime buzzer, sending Cabrini to the locker room with a 23-14 lead.

The Cavaliers set the tone for the second half in the first 30 seconds, as they forced a Gwynedd-Mercy turnover which they converted into a Sandone three pointer.  Senior Laura Caron's three pointer with 13:50 on the clock extended the advantage to 35-19.  Rivituso's jumper with 8:20 to play gave the Cavaliers an 18 points advantage, the largest of the game.  

After shooting just 8-32 in the first half, the Blue and White connected on 42% from the floor after the break.  Cabrini also recorded 11 assists on its 18 field goals.  Caron, Sandone, Decker, junior Colleen Stewart and freshman Kristina Startare recorded two each.

While its offense took awhile to find itself, the Blue and White showed why it is one of the best defensive units in the country.  Cabrini held the Griffins to half of their season average of 77.6 points.  Gwynedd-Mercy shot just 32% from the floor, including 5-25 in the opening half and 1-13 from three point range.  The Griffins also committed 24 turonovers, which the Cavaliers turned into 29 points.

Gwynedd-Mercy (18-9) was led by sophomore Shea Wassel's 13 points and 18 rebounds.  Fellow sophomore Natasha Matthews added nine points.

The Cavaliers must now wait until Monday's NCAA Selection Show to learn its fate for next weekend's opening round.