SCRANTON, Pa. – The Cabrini women' sbasketball season came to an end in tonight's opening round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, with a 60-49 loss to Marymount University.  The loss closes the Blue and White's campaign at 19-10.

The loss also closes the careers of the winningest class in program history.  The quartet of Meghan Martin, Dana Peterson, Mo O'Connell and Kristina Startare led the Cavaliers to 91 career wins, including 4 Colonial States Athletic Conference championships, the only women's basketball class in conference history to accomplish such a feat.

Martin led the Blue and White attack tonight, notching 19 points, including 13 in the second half.  Sophomore Sabrina Hackendorn added seven points, while O'Connell paired six points and six rebounds off the bench.

Freshman Nomi Washington also recorded six points to go with six steals, while sophomore Kate Skalski added five points.  

In what one would expect from two of the best defensive teams in the country, both teams struggled to find their rhythms in the opening period, as the teams combined for just seven made field goals. 

Marymount posted the game's first five points before Martin's back to back buckets pulled Cabrini to within 5-4.  A Saints' triple pushed the lead to 8-4 midway through the period, but it marked Marymount's final points of the quarter.  Layups by Peterson and Hackendorn evened the score at 8-8 after 10 minutes.

The teams began to find their offensive flows as they emerged for the second quarter.  Sophomore Kate Skalski gave the Cavaliers their first lead of the night, as Peterson found her for a three pointer on Cabrini's first possession of the period.

With the score tied at 13, the Blue and White began to use its defense to spur its offense.  The Cavaliers held the Saints scoreless for 3:32 and snapped the deadlock with an 8-0 run, building a 21-13 cushion with three minutes left in the half.

Marymount found its shooting stroke in the final minutes of the second quarter, connecting on five of its final six field goal attempts of the half, including a pair of three pointers.  The Cavaliers saw their eight point lead turn into a two point halftime deficit, as Marymount closed the half on a 12-2 run to take a 25-23 lead into the halftime break.

The Saints pushed their lead to 31-25 four minutes into the third quarter, but Cabrini responded, forcing consecutive turnovers and six straight points to tie the score at 31 on Washington's steal and lay-up.

Marymount went on a 6-0 run of its own to regain its six point lead.  A Martin three pointer ended the run before a late Skalski jumper pulled the Blue and White to within 37-26 to end the third quarter.

A lay-up by junior Renee Oliver temporarily gave Cabrini lead before the Saints went an 11-2 spurt to build a 48-40 cushion with six minutes to play.  The Blue and White had an answer, scoring seven consecutive points, as Martin connected on a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 48-47 with 3:25 to play.  

Unfortunately, the Cavaliers went cold from the floor, as Marymount pulled away late.  The Saints gave Cabrini a window, hitting just four of their 10 free throws but the Blue and White could not take advantage, as Cabrini made just one field goal in the game's final 5:38.

After shooting nearly 40% in the opening two quarters, the Blue and White shot just 25.6% after the break, including 1-11 from three point range.  Conversely, the Saints hit 11-19 from the floor in the third and fourth quarters.

Tonight also marked the first time in 13 games the Blue and White has fallen on the short side of the rebound ledger, as Marymount won the battle of the boards 41-31.   

Senior Nicole Viscuso led Marymount (23-5) with 18 points and 10 boards.  Sophomore Leah Hurst added 16 points, six boards and four steals, while senior Aileen Maknati chipped in with 14 points.  Senior Miranda paired 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Marymount advances to Saturday's second round, where it will play the winner of tonight's second game between No. 3 Scranton and WPI.