Cardinals Stop Crusaders 56-46
Peterson scores 24 in the win

1/26/2008

WASHINGTON - The Catholic University women's basketball squad got a big boost for its season Saturday evening with a decisive 56-46 victory over the Susquehanna University Crusaders (9-8, 2-4 Landmark) at the DuFour Center.  The win marked CUA's second in a row and the team's first conference victory of the 2008.  CUA improves to 2-4 in the Landmark Conference and 7-9 overall.

The first half lead went back and forth as neither squad could control the lead.  After three scoreless minutes to start the contest Susquehanna quickly captured the lead.  However, just as easily CUA took control and went ahead by two.  As the half progressed the teams saw five ties and as many lead changes.  With three minutes left, the Cards tied it at 19 and finished out the half with a 6-2 run to lead 24-21 at the break.

Freshman forward Brianna Peterson (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) led all scorers in the first half with 11 points and added four rebounds.  Kate Robinson (Emmitsburg, Md./Catoctin High School) had a team-high five rebounds and also contributed four points as well as three steals.  Both teams brought down 21 boards and the Cards held a 30-28 percent advantage from the field but the Crusaders had one less turnover.  Rachael Hughes led Susquehanna with six points.

The Cardinals used the momentum they had built in the first to command the pace of the second half.  Robinson and Peterson continued to dominate as CUA went up by as much as 13 a number of times.  With three minutes remaining the Cards were leading by 13 but desperation three's began to go in for the Crusaders.  Despite Susquehanna's attempts the Cardinal defense stayed strong and hung on to win the game 56-46.

Peterson was the game's high scorer with 24 points as well as eight rebounds to her credit.  Freshman Lauren McPeak (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) had a big second half and finished with 12 points and nine rebounds while Robinson contributed six points and a game-high ten boards.  The Cards shot 38 percent for the game and held Susquehanna to just 27 percent from the field.  CUA also outrebounded SU 42-39 and had just 16 turnovers to their 20.  Hughes led the Crusaders with 14 points.

The Cardinals will have less than a day's rest before hitting the court again against Juniata College in another Landmark Conference game at the DuFour Center.  The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.