SCRANTON, PA - The Cabrini Cavaliers (16-11, 12-4 CSAC) upset the #1 seed Marywood Pacers (18-8, 14-2 CSAC) in tonight's CSAC semifinal showdown by a final score of 67-63. Despite seven ties and eight lead changes, the Blue and White held tough down the stretch, using a 22-12 fourth quarter run that spanned over eight and a half minutes to emerge victorius.

Erin Dodds paced the Cabrini squad with a team high 19 points, going 8-8 from the charity stripe, and chipping in six rebounds as well. Nomi Washington (14 points), Renee Oliver (12 points) and Myonie Willaimson (11 points) all reached double-digit points, with Meghan Matthews (9 points) nearly making it five Cavs in double figures. 

Dodds had the Blue and White rolling from the opening tip as she hit a three to record the games first points, propelling the Cavs out to a 7-2 lead. Needing to respond, the Pacers rattled off a quick 12-4 run, getting buckets from Jordan Barth, Alyssa Olson, Catie Nealon and Natasha Hessling to take the 14-11 lead. The teams traded baskets for nearly a quarter, with the Cavs never trailing by more than four points during that span.

A pair of free throws by Dodds at the 6:28 mark handed the lead back to the Cavs at 23-22. Two more free throws from Matthews followed by an Oliver layup and another three ball from Dodds pushed the Cavs lead to 30-24. A pair of late baskets by Marywood pulled them to within two heading into the intermission. 

The two teams were dead even at 37 with three minutes left in the third quarter until Barth connected on two free throw attempts to give the Pacers the 39-37 lead. Dodds took the inbounds pass and found Williamson for the jumper to tie it back up at 39. Three straight points off the hand of Olson gave Marywood the 42-39 lead with 1:22 left in the third.

Olson and Washington once again swapped baskets to make it 44-41. Late free throws from Washington and a layup from Barth with nine seconds left capped the scoring in the quarter with the hosts holding a 46-43 lead entering the fourth. 

Barth immediately opened the fourth quarter with a triple and followed that up with a layup on the Pacers' next possession. The 51-45 lead with 8:44 to play would go down as the Green and White's largest lead of the game. The visiting Cavaliers didn't let the pressure of a late deficit sway their focus as they came rolling back.

Four straight free throws by Dodds started the Cavs aforementioned 22-12 run, with a basket from Williamson on the Cavs next possession tying the game at 51. Two free throws from Washington gave the Cavs the lead with just over five minutes to play. A late three by Marywood's Gab Giordano made things interesting as it pulled the Pacers to within just three.

Forced to start fouling to conserve time, Marywood sent Gallagher to the line. The freshman showed poise as she knocked down both free throws to keep the Cavs lead at five. Quick baskets from the Pacers on multiple possessions had them back within two points with just eight seconds remaining. Clinging to a 65-63 lead, Dodds was sent to the line with the opportunity to put the top seeded Pacers away for good. The Firts Team All-CSAC guard did just that as she nailed both attempts and sealed the upset victory for the Blue and White. 

Barth (20 points) and Giordano (17 points)  combined for 37 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks on the night for the Pacers. 

The four-time defending CSAC champions now find themselves in very familiar territory - preparing for their fifth straight conference title game. This will be the second time in the last four years the Cavs will meet the Gwynedd Mercy Griffins in the CSAC championship game and they surely will aim for a similar result as the Blue and White handed the Griffins a 49-38 loss in 2013.

The championship game will be played at Gwynedd Mercy University on Saturday, February 25. Game time is slated for 2pm.