Box Score

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - The Cabrini College Cavaliers posted a 74-68 victory over the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's basketball team Saturday night in the opening round of the 2007 Sunsational Hoops Classic in St. Thomas.

It was not your typical women's basketball game as the Seahawks (6-3) and Cabrini (5-3) played the contest using the men's 35-second shot clock, instead of the standard women's 30-second shot clock.  Attempts to rectify the situation caused the game to start 40 minutes late.

The Cavaliers were up 6-0 in the game's first two minutes before a three-point shot from junior forward Kiely Murphy (Olney, Md./Good Counsel) finally put St. Mary's on the scoreboard.  A 14-8 run gave Cabrini its biggest margin of the game at 20-11 with 12:21 left in the first half.

The Seahawks staked their first lead (24-23) of the contest on a lay-up by senior forward Lisa Daciek (Laurel, Md./Atholton) at 5:03.  However, a lay-up by Deana DiAmico returned the advantage to Cabrini at 3:29 (27-26).  Two free throws by freshman guard Jamie Roberts (Rockville, Md./Barrie) knotted the game at 28-28 at 2:14 and St. Mary's went on to claim a 33-28 halftime lead.

DiAmico and SMCM's junior forward Allie Scott (Laurel, Md./Atholton) paced all players at the half with nine points each, while Kayleen Smith hauled in six rebounds.

Strong second half shooting helped Cabrini secure the 74-68 win as the Cavaliers made 50% of their shots compared to St. Mary's 37.9-field goal percentage.  Cabrini opened up the second half on an 11-4 run to reclaim the lead once again at 15:43 (39-37).

A Murphy lay-up gave the Seahawks their last lead of the contest at 10:32 (50-49) before Cabrini put together a 9-2 run capped by a trey from Alyssa Brady to give her a team a 59-52 margin with 8:51 remaining in the game.  Sophomore guard Steph Saint-Aubin (Bowie, Md./Elizabeth Seton) put St. Mary's within two (67-65) at 2:18 but seven-of-eight shooting from the free throw line by the Cavaliers down the stretch sealed the win.

DiAmico and Brady led Cabrini with 14 points apiece as DiAmico dished out a game-high six assists and Brady hauled in eight boards.  Nikki Duggan contributed 12 points off the bench.

Saint-Aubin finished the game with a game-high 15 points, while Scott and freshman forward Tiara Hurte (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) each added 14 points.  Scott also brought down a game-high nine caroms.

St. Mary's will return to action tonight when the Seahawks take on Alvernia College, who suffered a 94-75 setback at the hands of No. 12/14 Kean University, in the consolation match-up at 6:00.  Cabrini will face off against Kean in the championship game at 8:00.