Cardinals Hang On for 76-70 Win
Peterson scores 25 in the contest

2/1/2008

KINGS POINT, N.Y. - The Catholic University women's basketball team overpowered the United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners (11-8, 3-5 Landmark Conference) Friday evening in New York. The Cards maintained a large lead throughout much of the contest but late in the game USMMA came back and forced CUA to dig in and hold on to get the 76-70 victory. CUA improves to 8-11 on the season and 3-5 in the Landmark Conference.

USMMA jumped out to a small lead going ahead by as much as seven at the halfway point. At 10:04 Christina Rogers (Monmouth Beach, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) sank a three-pointer to tie it up which would mark the Mariner's final advantage of the game as the Cards went on a 7-0 run. From that point on it was all CUA with the Cardinals staying hot from the field. Thanks to solid shooting from the field the Cards went into the break leading 44-36.

Rogers and Brianna Peterson (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) each scored a team-high 12 points in the half. Their classmate Kaitlyn O'Keefe (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) led the squad in rebounds with with four. CUA was outrebounded 20-15 and shot just one percent more than the Mariners. However, the Cards committed just six turnovers while USMMA had 12 for the half. Kristen Hetsko was the leading scorer for the Mariners with 11 points.

The Cardinals looked the have the game in the bag midway through the half taking as much as a 16-point lead. However, the Mariners had one more surge left in them with five minutes to go. Leading by 11, CUA gave up a quick nine point run to make the score 65-63 with three minutes remaining. The Cards didn't give up and immediately answered with a 10-0 rally fueled by free throws as CUA went 6-6 from the line during the run. Once again holding a double digit lead the Cardinals were able to hold on and get the 76-70 win.

Peterson led the Cards with 25 points as well as eight rebounds and a 2-4 performance from beyond the arc. Rogers had 12 points and Lauren McPeak (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) added nine along with five rebounds. The Cardinals had 34 rebounds to USMMA's 46 and committed nine less turnovers. Hetsko had 25 points in the game for the Mariners.

CUA will travel to Drew University on Saturday for a 2 p.m., Landmark Conference game.