Late Free Throw Downs Cards
Peterson scores 17 in the game

2/2/2008

MADISON, N.J. - The Catholic University women's basketball squad lost a heartbreaker Saturday afternoon against the Drew University Rangers (6-13, 4-5 Landmark Conference). The Cardinals and Rangers traded the lead throughout the game but it all came down to a free throw with two seconds remaining to sink CUA 60-59. The Cardinals' Brianna Peterson (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) had 17 points in the game to lead the squad which fell to 8-12 on the season and 3-6 in Landmark Conference play.

Six ties highlighted the first half as the lead flip flopped back and forth between the teams. CUA started out with the lead but never went ahead by more than five allowing Drew to stay in the game. With less than seven minutes left, the Rangers tied it up and finished up the half with a 15-4 run to make the score 30-23 going into halftime.

Peterson once again led the Cards in the first half with nine points, she also had a pair of rebounds. Kerri Confrey (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and Jessica Schiavoni (Winchester, Va./John Handley) each contributed four points to the Cardinal effort. The Rangers held a 14-11 rebounding advantage and had five fewer turnovers. However, despite some mistakes, the Cards kept it close by shooting over 47 percent from the field and holding Drew to 39 percent.

The Rangers held onto the lead to start the second half but every time they tried to pull away, CUA had an answer. While the Cards couldn't seem to get on top they managed to keep the deficit under ten points holding a comeback in close reach. With five minutes left CUA began to cut the lead and tied it up for the seventh time of the game at 2:32 thanks to a Peterson three. A pair of free throws from Christina Rogers (Monmouth Beach, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) gave the Cards a two-point lead under two minutes but once again the Rangers answered with two of their own. In the final minute the Cardinals had two more possessions but turned the ball over on both. On the defensive end CUA stole Drew's second to last possession but on the final play of the game the Cards fouled in the paint. Laura Methvin missed the first but hit the second to give Drew the 60-59 victory.

Peterson was CUA's leading scorer with 17 points and also pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Rogers and Schiavoni eached weighed in with 11 points. The Cardinals were outrebounded 32-27 and shot just two percent better from the field. Both squads committed 19 turnovers in the contest. Allison Hartnett led the Rangers with 19 points.

The Cards will have the week off before traveling to Juniata and Susquehanna next weekend for another Landmark Conference doubleheader.