ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The Cabrini women's basketball team opened the Stockton University Tip Off Tournament with a 61-53 victory over Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday evening.
The Blue and White received a pair of strong performances from juniors
Ashley Tutzauer and
Kate Lannon as they combined for 32 of their team's 61 points. Tutzauer in particular was especially efficient as she totaled 20 points in just 15 minutes of work. The junior connected on six of seven three pointers and added three rebounds and a steal.
Lannon finished her night with 12 points and four rebounds, while classmate
Lexi Edwards (nine points), freshman
Katie Rodriguez (eight points) and senior
Cassidy Gallagher (five points) rounded out the Cavs with at least five points.
The Cavs started slow as Greensburg opened the game on an 8-3 run before a Lannon steal and layup cut the lead to three. The Panthers would end the first quarter with a 5-3 spurt for 13-8 lead.
A big second quarter ultimately propelled the Cavs to victory as they would go on to outscore the Panthers 21-7 in the quarter. After a trio of baskets from Gallagher, Edwards and freshman
Kai Williams to pull the Cavs even at 15 all, Rodriguez delivered a layup on the fastbreak to put the Blue and White on top with just over six minutes left in the half.
Ensuing triples from Gallagher and junior
Caitlin King pushed the Cavalier lead to 23-15 before a layup from Pitt's Shaquoia McCray ended the Panthers' four minute scoreless drought. Tutzauer and Lannon capped the big quarter with triples of their own to hand the Cavs a 29-20 lead at the intermission.
The two teams nearly matched each other through the third and fourth quarters with Greensburg narrowly outscoring the Cavs 33-32 in the second half, but the Cavs second quarter run would prove to be the key to the eventual 61-53 victory.
Overall the Blue and White finished with a 21-7 advantage in points off turnovers as they forced a season high 24 turnovers, highlighted by Edwards five steals.
Following tonight's game, the Cavs improve to 2-0 on the season. They will look to add to their win total tomorrow when they take on Stockton University at 3pm.
