The lady Cavaliers ended their season on Friday, March 6 in the first round of the NCAA tournament against the Baruch College Bearcats (N.Y.) with a final score of 72-58.
With the loss, the women wrapped up an outstanding 23-5 season and returned home heartbroken but satisfied.
“We played a good game, but they were just better than us that day. Our girls played their hearts out and left nothing on the floor,” Head Coach Bernadette Laukaitis said.
The Cavs lose eight seniors who have seen two NCAA tournaments, three conference title games and won two conference championships.
Rachael Caron, Nikki Duggan, Kaitlyn Fetterman, Casey Kyler, Brittany McLeod, Nina Williams, Kate Ryan and Kayleen Smith all wrap up their four years with a 74-36 record.
“We have been through a lot together and I will miss everyone so much. I am very proud of my teammates. They made my years as a Cabrini women’s basketball player so special. I love them all and will never forget our memories,” senior exercise science major Kate Ryan said.
In the final game of the season, the Bearcats took an early lead and it was difficult for the lady Cavs to chip away.
Cabrini was held scoreless the last seven minutes of the first half and Baruch secured a 31-16 lead at the break.
As Cabrini began the second half, they quickly trimmed the deficit to 11 points, 31-20.
Still, Baruch never led by less than 10 points and came out on top when the buzzer sounded.
Junior guard Kate Walck tallied a team-high 17 points, shooting 7-for-15 overall and junior point guard Deana DiAmico recorded 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.
“I could not have asked for a better season this year, especially as a senior,” Nikki Duggan, senior English and communication major, said. “There are eight of us and it has been an incredible journey for four years. This season especially, we knew we were the best team in the conference and we expected nothing short of a conference championship.”
The women earned their second straight conference title in as many years against Gywnedd-Mercy College on Saturday, Feb. 28 on the Dixon Center home court.
“This was an awesome way to end my four years here and I love each an every one of these girls,” senior elementary and special education major Kaitlyn Fetterman said. “To be a part of such an accomplished and amazing program is something I will always appreciate and never forget.”
Despite the season ending loss, the lady Cavaliers enjoyed a historic year, picking up the program’s highest win total since the 1994-95 campaign and appearing in the NCAA tournament for the sixth time.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more than the effort that they gave. We had a great run and it truly was a pleasure coaching such a wonderful group of young women this year. We have eight wonderful senior basketball players and one senior manager that we are going to miss so much next year. It really won’t be the same without them. They truly made this year a year I will never forget,” Laukaitis said.
