RADNOR, Pa. – For the fourth consecutive year, the Cabrini women's basketball team has claimed the ultimate prize in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.  

The Cavaliers became the first women's basketball team in conference history to win four consecutive conference titles with tonight's 74-64 win over Neumann University at Nerney Field House.  

With their championship victory, the Blue and White will make their ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  Cabrini will learn its tournament fate on Monday at 2:30 p.m., when the NCAA Selection show is broadcast on NCAA.com.

The Cavaliers improved to 19-9 on the year with their sixth consecutive victory and 11th victory in their last 12 games.

Senior Meghan Martin earned Most Valuable Players honors after posting a career high 31 points, incluing 9-10 from the free throw line, seven rebounds and four steals.  Senior Kristina Startare was the only other Cavalier in double
figures, pairing 12 points and eight boards.

Junior Renee Oliver and sophomore Sabrina Hackendorn added eight points and seven boards each, while senior Mo O'Connell chipped in with seven points and seven boards off the bench.

The Blue and White relied on its patented combination of stingy defense and glass dominance to secure today's win.  Cabrini held Neumann to just .333 shooting from the field, including 8-26 in the first half, 70 points below its season average.  

Cabrini also built a 50-39 rebounds edge, including 22 offensive boards that led to a +14 advantage in field goal attempts.

While the Cavaliers struggled with their shooting touch, the Blue and White committed just eight turnovers in the victory, a season low.

The Cavaliers played perhaps their worst first quarter of the season, shooting just 3-15 from the floor with four turnovers and a five minute scoring in the period.  The Blue and White relied on its defense to keep the game tight, as Cabrini trailed just 14-7 after 10 minutes.

The Knights extended their lead to a game high eight points early in the second quarter, before the Cavaliers turned things around.

Trailing 24-17 midway through the second quarter, a Martin three pointer sprung Cabrini on a 9-0 run.  A pair of Martin free throws gave the Cavaliers a 26-24 lead with 2:21 left in the half.  The cushion remained until the half, as Startare's lay-up sent Cabrini into the halftime break with a 30-28 advantage.

While Neumann shot just .286 from the field in the first half, the Knights kept the game close on the strength of a 11-11 performance from the charity stripe.

Neumann opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to build a 38-32 lead midway through the frame. The Cavaliers remained steady, as sophomore Kate Skalski drained a three pointer with 1:46 to play in the period, pulling Cabrini within 42-41.  A Martin steal led to a Neumann foul, a Martin knocked down a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left in the quarter to give the Blue and White a 43-42 lead.

The 2016 CSAC women's basketball championship would come down to 10 minutes of action.

The Blue and White carried its momentum from the third quarter into the final 10 minutes as Hackendorn's offensive rebound and put-back capped a 6-0 spurt that gave the Cavaliers a 51-44 lead with eight minutes to play.

Neumann cut the lead back to two points on two occasions over the next few minutes, but the Cavaliers had an answer each time, regaining their two possession lead.

With the game hanging in the balance, the Cavaliers relied on their glass dominance to keep its lead.  Over a three minute period, Cabrini secured four offensive rebounds, keeping the ball away from the Knights.

The Cavaliers then put the game away at the free throw line.  After making just eight appearances at the stripe in the opening three quarters, Cabrini hit 16 of its 18 free throws in the final 10 minutes, including 14-16 in the final 4:21.

Three players scored in double figures for Neumann (17-11), led by senior JoHanna Metzger, who paired 19 points and 15 rebounds.  Junior Aaliya Hayes added 18 points and eight rebounds, while freshman Nafisa Saunders recorded 14 points and three blocked shots off the bench.