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RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini college women's lacrosse team captured its second consecutive Colonial States Athletic Conference championship, and 12th in the program's 17 year history, with today's wire-to-wire 22-11 win over the Neumann University Knights at Edith Robb Dixon Field.  The victory improved to the Cavaliers to 11-7 on the season and punched the club's ticket to the 2013 NCAA Tournament, the program's 10th appearance.

Freshman Nathalie Basunga was named the game's Most Valuable Player as she led five Cavaliers who accounted for 31 of the team's 34 total points in the game. The rookie posted a career high 10 points on seven goals on just 11 shots and three assists.  For the fifth consecutive game, Basunga controlled double-digit draws, grabbing 12 today, to go with six ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Sophomore Melissa Scanzano also had a career game as her six points, on four goals and two assists, pushed her over the 100 career point mark.  The sophomore also caused three turnovers, scooped four ground balls and controlled four draws.  Fellow sophomore Lacie Doubet matched Scanzano with four goals and Basunga with three helpers.  Junior Bree Thompson and freshman Katie Lasater added three goals and an assist each in the win.  

Scanzano got the Blue and White off to a good start with the game's first goal 2:33 into the game.  Basunga doubled the lead just over five minutes into play.  Neumann put its first mark on the score sheet with 20:42 left in the half, but just 40 seconds later Scanzano's second of the day extended the lead back to two goals.  Basunga's second of the afternoon came with 18:42 left in the half on an unassisted tally.  

Senior Christina Pasquariello found Doubet at the 17:37 mark, extending the lead to 5-1.  After a Neumann free position goal, Doubet added her second.  Basunga completed her hat trick with just south of 11 minutes left in the half.  Lasater recorded two of her goals at the 5:22 and 3:21 marks, just before Doubet's free position goal at the 2:00 mark, extended Cabrini's lead to 10-3.

The Knights added a pair of goals in the final 93 seconds of the opening half, but Basunga reclaimed the momentum with her fourth goal coming with just 27 seconds left in the stanza.  After 30 minutes of play, the Blue and White held comfortable 11-5 lead.

The clubs exchanged goals in the opening four minutes of the second half, as scored by Scanzano and Thompson answered Neumann goals.  The back and forth came to an end at the 24:01 mark as a Basunga goal sent the Cavaliers on a 5-0 run over the next 2:02.  Scanzano's milestone point came with 23:46 on an unassisted goal.  After winning the ensuing draw, Basunga found Doubet for a goal 14 seconds later.  Thompson completed her hat trick with goals at the 22:33 and 21:59 marks, extending Cabrini's lead to 18-8.

Neumann cut the lead back to 18-10 with 17:52 to play with a pair of unassisted goals, but again the Cavaliers had an answer.  Lasater and Carzo netted goals, rebuilding the Blue and White's 10 goal advantage with 14:23 to play.  Basunga closed her career day with two goals in 20 seconds at 5:32 and 5:12.    

Thompson secured a game-high seven ground balls, while four players corralled six each.  Pasquariello and junior Erin McLaughlin match Scanzano with three caused turnovers each.  Junior goaltender Janel Folkomer recorded 10 saves in the championship win.

Junior Lexy Willkinson led Neumann (14-5) with three goals, while senior Meghan Garsey tallied two goals and two assists.  Freshman netminder Christina Hughes posted 12 saves for the Knights.

The Cavaliers outshot Neumann 48-26 and scooped 54 ground balls to the Knights' 34.

With the victory the Cavaliers will return to the NCAA Tournament, seeking the program's first tournament victory.  The Blue and white will learn its fate on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. during the NCAA Division III Selection Show on NCAA.com.