RADNOR, PA – The Cavaliers battled back from an 11 point deficit and led with less than three minutes to play but, in the end, the Cabrini women's basketball team fell short in its effort to regain the Eagle Road trophy.

The Blue and fell to Eastern University 59-53 tonight at Nerney Field House in the season opener for both clubs.

Junior Kate Skalski led the Cavaliers with 13 points in 19 minutes off the bench, while junior Myonie Williamson added 12 points and seven rebounds in her first game in the Blue and White.

Senior Renee Oliver grabbed a career high 12 rebounds to go with a team high four assists.

The Blue and White built an early lead, as junior Caroline Price connected on a pair of early three pointers. Neither team could establish any momentum, as the opening quarter boasted five lead changes and five ties.

Eastern freshman Kayla Holmes broke the final tie of the period, as her triple gave the Eagles a 19-16 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Willamson's three pointer evened the score in the opening seconds of the second quarter, but Eastern responded with an 11-0 spurt to build a game high 30-19 lead with 6:06 left in the half.

Cabrini turned up the defense in the final minutes of the second quarter, as it closed the stanza on a 10-2 run.  Dodds and Skalski hit three sin the final 90 seconds of the quarter to pull the Blue and White within 32-29 at the half.

Eastern controlled the opening five minutes of the third quarter pushing its lead to 40-31, while the Cavaliers controlled the final five minutes, using a 7-0 spurt to pull within 40-38 with 10 minutes to play.

Five consecutive points from Williamson, including a three point play at the 6:46 mark, gave the Cavaliers a 46-45 lead, their first since they led 15-13 in the final minute of the first quarter.

Both teams exchanged buckets before freshman Cassidy Gallagher connected on a pair of free throws to give Cabrini a 51-49 lead with 2:56 to play.

The Blue and White saw its lead slip away, as it missed its next three field goal attempts and turned the ball over three times.  Meanwhile, the Eagles hit back to back buckets before hitting 6-10 from the free throw line down the stretch.

Four Eagles scored in double figures, led by senior Emily Lavin's 16 points, while sophomore Regie Robinson had a monster game, recording 13 points, 17 rebounds, five steals, four assists and three blocked shots.

The Cavaliers will return to action on Friday, as they face Moravian College (1-0) at the Swarthmore College Tip-Off Tournament.  Game time is slated for 7pm at Swarthmore's Tarple Pavilion.