ASTON, PA – The Cabrini University women's basketball team escaped with a 50-48 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) win at Gwynedd Mercy University.
Two Cavaliers scored in double figures today, led by freshman Giana Rullo's new career mark of 14 points along with six rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes of action off the bench.
Junior Miranda Liebtag finished second in team scoring with 11 points and seven boards and three steals. On the opposite end of the court the AEC Defensive Player of the Week, Katie Rodriguez, set a new career high with 17 rebounds, and nearly recorded the double-double with nine points.
Tierra Harris collected an offensive rebound and opened the game for the Knights for an early 2-0 lead, which ultimately proved to be their last lead of the game. The Cavs responded with an eight point run, highlighted by graduate student Ashley Tutzauer who made two steals for fastbreak layups, 8-2. Neumann would tie the game at eight and 12 but Cabrini ended the quarter ahead by two, thanks to a pair of points from the charity line courtesy of Giana Rullo.
In a back-and-forth affair the Cavs managed to hang on to a slim two point advantage through the first six minutes of the quarter, before going on a 10-3 run in which Rullo and Liebtag combined for eight points. Cabrini went into the break ahead by seven, 30-23.
Coming out of the break the Knights trimmed the lead to four point on a Jacqueline Wardrop free throw, 34-28, but surrendered nine of the next 11 as the Cavs opened up a double digit advantage, 41-30. The Cavs limited the home teams offense to 3-18, 16.7 percent, from the field in the third quarter.
The Knights went on an 9-1 run to begin the final quarter as they narrowed the lead to 42-39 with under five minutes to play in regulation. Rullo ended the run with a layup and one as the Cavs added five unanswered to pull ahead 47-39 with 2:34 to play. The home team went on a 9-1 run over the next two minutes, which started with a Dymond Collins three pointer and was capped by a Madison Stewart layup to tie the game at 48-48 with 20 seconds to play. With possession of the ball the Cavaliers called a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout and with overtime looming the Cavaliers refused to crack under pressure. With three seconds on the clock the Cavs leading scorer, Giana Rullo, was awarded a pair of free throw attempts. Rullo made both and the Cavaliers hung on to win their fourth consecutive game.
The Blue and White found a way to win the game despite shooting just 1-7 from beyond the arc in the game and 2-12 from the field in the final 10 minutes.
Two Knights finished the game in double figures as Madison Stewart led the team with 14 points and Tierra Harris followed suit with 10.
The Cavs won four straight for the first time since a four game stretch from January 22nd to February 1st, 2020.
Following tonight's game, the Cavs improve to 8-9 overall and 3-2 in Atlantic East Conference play. Cabrini will look to continue its win streak at Centenary University this Wednesday, January 26th. Tipoff is scheduled for 6PM.
