RADNOR, PA - The Cabrini women's basketball team rallied to a 63-60 come from behind victory this afternoon over the No. 4 seeded Grove City College Wolverines.
Trailing by as many as 13 points midway through the third quarter, the Blue and White used a mammoth 15-to-0 run to steal the lead 41-39 off a layup from senior
Gaby Jones.
GCC's Jess Bowen answered with layup to even things back at 41 a piece, but back-to-back jumpers from senior
Nomi Washington and junior
Meghan Matthews gave the Cavs a 45-41 lead heading into the final stanza.
The Wolverines and Cavs traded threes from Bowen and sophomore
Kate Lannon, respectively, to open the fourth quarter. Classmate
Lexi Edwards earned a foul on a corner three on the Cavs' next possession and put her squad up 51-46 following the free throws.
An and-one and layup from Grove City knotted things back up at 51 all before Washington hit a shoulder jumper to put the Cavs up 53-51 with 6:38 to play. The guard totaled 14 second half points to lead the comeback.
The Wolverines and Cavs traded baskets for the next four minutes, running the score to 60-60 with 1:12 to play. Another mid-range jumper from Washington handed the Cavs the 62-62 lead with just under a minute left.
Cabrini forced a costly Grove City turnover on the ensuing possession, forcing the Wolverines to foul with only 14 seconds left. Matthews split her attempts from the charity stripe, pushing the Cavs' lead to three points.
A desperation three from GCC as time expired capped a wild Cavalier comeback, sending the Blue and White to the ECAC championship.
As mentioned, Washington led all scorers with 19 points and added a game high seven steals. Lannon rounded out the Cavs in double figures with 14 points, including the Cavaliers' only two triples, and a team high seven rebounds.
Grove City's Kate Balcom surpassed 1,000 career points following 14 points, while also adding eight rebounds. Jess Bowen paced the Wolverines' offense with 15 points and 13 rebounds to secure the double double.
GCC held a distinct 49-36 advantage on the glass, including 19 offensive rebounds. Cabrini, however, forced 26 turnovers, while committing just 11 themselves.
Cabrini will play the winner of No. 1 seeded Misericordia and No. 1 seeded New York University in tomorrow's final. Tip off is slated for 1pm.
Semifinal No. 2: No. 1 Misericordia University vs No. 1 New York University
No. 1 seeded New York University held on for a 69-59 victory over fellow No. 1 seed Misericordia this afternoon.
NYU's Janean Cuffee netted a game high 30 points, highlighted by 19 in the first half. She added five rebounds and two steals. Katie Foos chipped in 13 points for the Violets, 12 of which came from beyond the arc.
Misericordia was paced by Tessa Zamolyi's 18 points. The forward added seven rebounds and finished a perfect 7-7 from the charity stripe. Japriya Carroll rounded out the Cougars in double figures with 17 points.
Following today's semifinal game, the Violets will advance to the ECAC Championship game where they'll take on host Cabrini University in a battle of No. 1 seeds. Tomorrow's tip off is slated for 1pm.