The three-time reigning Colonial State Athletic Conference tournament champions started their run for a fourth consecutive title on Monday night.
The No. 3 seeded Cabrini Cavaliers played host to the No. 6 seeded Rosemont Ravens at the Nerney Field House in the first round of tournament play. Cabrini enters the tournament having to play in the first round for the first time since 2011- 2012 season.
Rosemont, who has never won a CSAC tournament title, came into the game with a big challenge in front of them.
“When it comes to the playoffs you never know what could happen,” freshman
guard, Nomi Washington, said. “Every team is going to fight their hardest to knock another off and it showed tonight.”
Rosemont was able to take the lead with three minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter. That was the last time the Ravens would look up at the scoreboard and see their team out in front.
The Cavaliers were able to create turnovers with some on ball pressure and errant passes from the opposing team. An edge in the turnover game was especially glaring in the steals department for the Cavaliers, 15 compared to three from the Ravens.
The Cavaliers took advantage of the Raven’s miscues and were able to score 20 points off of turnovers.
On the offensive side of the ball, senior guard Meghan Martin led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
“I thought I played a really good game, but I could have shot better,” Martin said. “The team had a rough start but we got it together eventually.
The Cavaliers received a big contribution from their bench with 31 points in the game. Washington was able to come off the bench to play 19 minutes, score 11 points and grab 5 boards.
“Rosemont came out and they worked very hard and they put us in a tight spot a few times in the game,” Washington said. But being the team that we are we fought back even harder, we took it right to them and never gave up on the defensive end. That’s what made the difference tonight. It goes for my entire team that when we play the defense that we know how to play, we are unstoppable.”
The Cavaliers took some shots from downtown, making a total of seven beyond the arc, with a 30 percent mark.
“Tonight was just the start to our jour- ney to the championship,” Martin said.
Head coach Kate Pearson and her team will take the next step to winning four straight CSAC titles in the semifinal matchup against No. 2 seeded Gwynedd Mercy University at the Griffin Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. The Griffins received a first round bye to advance to the semifinals.
