Cabrini University Cavaliers (11-8, 6-0 Atlantic East Conference) vs. Gwynedd Mercy University Griffins (9-10, 2-4 Atlantic East Conference)
Sunday, January 27, 1pm
Nerney Field House

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Last Meeting: Cabrini 66, Gwynedd Mercy 65 (12/1/18, Gwynedd Valley, PA)
Following a first half that saw the Griffins claim a 34-28 lead, the Blue and White turned up the defensive pressure on the Griffins to open the second stanza. After a jumper and a triple from Washington and Lannon, respectively, to cut the Griffins lead to 34-33, the Cavaliers forced a pair of key turnovers to help keep the Gwyneed Mercy offense at bay. 

As they've shown in years past, however, the Griffins quickly regained their offensive rhythm to the tune of a 15-to-7 run to push their lead to nine points with just over 5:30 left in the game.

With their backs against the wall, the Cavalier offense answered with a huge 17-to-6 run over the next four minutes to steal the lead at 63-61. A key triple from freshman Dani Tyrell with 50 seconds to play put an exclamation point on the Cavs' run as it swung the lead in their favor. 

The Griffins would answer with a three pointer of their own on the ensuing possession to retake the lead at 64-63, but a layup from Lannon with 20 seconds to go put the Cavs back up by one.

After junior Cassidy Gallagher hit the back end of a pair of free throw attempts with seven seconds to play to make it a 66-64 game, the Griffins would have one final chance to tie with a trip to the charity stripe and five seconds on the clock.

After sinking the first one, the Griffins Monet McGorda's second shot missed the mark and secured the Cavaliers thrilling Atlantic East victory. 

Cabrini Last Time Out: Cabrini 54, Marymount 51 (1/23/19, Randor, PA)
The Cavs opened the game on a 10-to-3 run, highlighted by a pair of triples from Edwards and Matthews and a coast to coast finish from senior Gaby Jones, to steal the momentum. Back to back layups from Tutzauer and Matthews pushed the Cavalier lead to 16-5 before Marymount's Gabriella Haddad ended the drought with a layup at the 1:54 mark. The layup marked the Saints first field goal in just over eight minutes of action. 

The 16-7 Cavalier lead would carry over to the second quarter before a layup from the Saints Katie McShea cut the Cabrini lead to 16-9. The Blue and White would respond with a 10-to-4 run over the next seven minutes of play to push the lead to 26-13 with 1:30 left in the half. After swapping baskets, the Blue and White would end the half with a 28-17 advantage. 

The third quarter featured more back and fourth action before the Saints made a late push in the final stanza. 

Trailing 52-40 with 4:31 left the play, the Saints rattled off an 11-to-1 run to trim the Cavaliers' lead to 53-51 with 57 seconds to play. Following a missed jumper from Matthews with 38 seconds on the clock and a Marymount timeout, the Saints Abby Fisher drove to the rim and dished to an open McShea under the basket. McShea, who led the Saints with 17 points and 15 rebounds, couldn't convert the routine layup, but grabbed her own rebound and forced the Cavalier defense into a foul with just six seconds on the clock. 

Facing a pair of pressure free throws to tie, the freshman rimmed out both attempts, the latter of which ended up in the outstretched arms of Matthews. The Saints were forced to foul following a Cavalier timeout and sent Tutzuaer to the line with a chance to ice the game. 

The sophomore delivered as she hit the front end of a pair of free throws to push the Cavs lead to 54-51 with four seconds left. The missed second attempt allowed time to run out, securing the thrilling 54-51 victory for the Cavs.  

Gwynedd Mercy Last Time Out: Gwynedd Mercy 85, Marywood 81(1/23/19, Scranton, PA)
The Griffins trailed 61-55 heading into the final 10 minutes but the squad put together a 17-2 run to open the stanza and was able to fight off the Pacers to win their third game in a row.

Gwynedd led by as much as 10 on two occasions in the first quarter; however Marywood cut the lead to 26-21. In the second, both teams cooled off, but GMercyU still held a 39-35 edge at halftime.

The third quarter saw the Pacers shoot over 84% and use 13-1 spurt to take their first lead since early in the first. A late three put Marywood up by six as the teams entered the fourth.

In that game-changing scoring run to open the fourth, Gwynedd's Roseman, Thompson, Kane all hit from behind the arc to spark the Griffins. Marywood tried to put together one last push as a three from Wyers made it a one-point game (82-81) with 20 seconds left. Kane upped the lead with two free throws before Thompson forced a turnover on the ensuing Pacer possession. She would go to the line and hit one of two with 11 ticks remaining for a four-point advantage.

5 Factors for Cabrini

• The Cavs are riding their longest winning streak of the season at five games. 
• The Blue and White defense has allowed more than 56 points just once in their last five games. 
• Cabrini continues to be dominant at home this season as they have played to a 7-1 record in Nerney Field House. 
• With their thrilling 54-51 victory over Marymount on Wednesday, the Blue and White now own sole possession of first place in the Atlantic East.
• The Cavs own the second best turnover margin in the AEC at 4.21. They're 21.5 forced turnovers per game also ranks second in the conference. 

5 Factors for Gwynedd Mercy

• The Griffins are one of just three teams in the AEC that post a positive turnover margin as theirs sits at 1.63. 
• Gwynedd Mercy is currently riding their longest winning streak of the season at three game. 
• The Gwynedd offense has been hot over their last three games as they are averaging 80.3 points per game, including a high of 85 points in a victory over Marywood. 
• Defense continues to be a concern for the Griffins as they allow the conference's highest opponent field goal percentage at 42 percent. 
• Offensively, the Griffins are led by Susan Bossler. The guard leads the team with 14.1 points per game and a 39 percent three point percentage.  

 

	Tale of the Tape
Cabrini		Gwynedd Mercy
11-8 (6-0 AEC)	Record	9-10 (2-4 AEC)
65.6	Points per Game	68.2
.357	FG Percentage	.364
.283	3-Point FG Percentage	.300
38.2	Rebounds per Game	40.1
12.9	Assists per Game	14.1
3.4	Blocked Shots per game	2.1
12.0	Steals per Game	7.7
17.3	Turnovers per Game	16.5

 

	Team Leaders
Nomi Washington (14.0)	Points	Susan Bossler (14.1)
Kate Lannon (6.9)	Rebounds	Chyanne Fine (5.9)
Ashley Tutzauer (1.8)	Assists	Olivia Roseman (4.0)
Meghan Matthews (1.1)	Blocks	Chyanne Fine (0.7)
Nomi Washington (3.2)	Steals	Olivia Roseman (1.7)