Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cabrini's record setting women's basketball season came to an end tonight as the Cavaliers fell short at Catholic University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.  The 52-44 loss ends the Blue and White's campaign at 24-4 and ends a program best 19 game win streak. 

With 24 wins, the Cavaliers matched the 1994-95 club that posted a final mark of 24-3.  Cabrini's 0.857 win percentage is also the second best in the program's 55 year history.

Tonight also marks the final games in the careers of Cabrini seniors Laura Caron and Melissa Kudzmas.  The duo were an instrumental part of helping rebuild the Blue and White program from a 10 win team in 2010-11 to a conference champion in 2012-13.  The pair helped Cabrini to 61 victories, including the 2013 CSAC Championship, while scoring a combined 866 points, grabbing 611 rebounds and serving up 240 assists.

Tonight's game was a defensive battle from the opening tip, as one would expect from two of the best defenses in the country.  The Cavaliers knew they would have to execute a nearly flawless defensive game plan and control the boards if they had a chance to win, and that is exactly what they did.

The Cardinals scored the first four points of the game, but the Cavaliers responded.  Caron found junior Annie Rivituso for a lay-up, giving Cabrini a 5-4 lead less than four minutes into play.  The lead went back and forth for much of the first half, until a lay-up by sophomore Amber Keys capped a 7-0 Cabrini run, giving the Cavaliers a 19-13 lead with 7:28 to play in the first half.  Catholic slowly chipped away, tying the score at 23 just seconds before the halftime buzzer.  After the opening 20 minutes of play, the clubs found themselves tied at 23.

Back-to-back lay-ups by juniors Brittany Sandone and Colleen Stewart gave the Blue and White a 29-25 lead less than three minutes into the half.  Catholic remained steady, using a 6-0 spurt to gain a two point lead with 15:32 on the clock.  The Cardinals extended their lead to 37-33 midway through the half, their largest lead in the game to that point. 

A pair of Rivituso free throws cut the lead to one point before Catholic connected on their only three pointer of the half, one which proved to be the biggest shot of the game.   Not only did the bucket extend Catholic's lead to four, but it thwarted Cabrini's comeback attempt and swung the momentum to the home team. 

Caron found Stewart for a jumper, slicing the lead in half, but the Blue and White would not score again for 6:15, allowing the Cardinals to pull away with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 49-39 with two minutes on the clock. 

Rivituso led the Cavaliers with a game-high 16 points and grabbed five boards.  Stewart finished with 10 points and a team high six boards.  Freshman Kristina Startare matched Stewart's six rebounds and added five points.  Caron tallied five points, five rebounds, six assist and two steals in her collegiate finale.

Cabrini held Catholic to just 34.5% shooting from the field, including 3-7 from three point range.  The Cardinals' 52 points was their second lowest scoring output of the season, over 14 points below their season average.  Their 20 field goals, 10 offensive boards and 40 total rebounds were also among their lowest of the 2012-13 campaign.

Kelli Josephsen led the Cardinals (27-1) with 12 points and 12 rebounds.  Katarina Owunna added 11 points and eight boards, while Jill Woerner chipped in with nine points, four rebounds and four assists.

With the win, Catholic advances to Saturday's second round match-up with Widener University.  The Pride improved to 22-5 on the season with tonight's 56-52 nail biter over FDU-Florham.  With both squads winning their program's first NCAA Tournament game tonight, Saturday's winner will make its program's first ever Sweet 16 appearance.