BOX SCORE
Aston, PA – Visiting Marywood University rallied from a 13-point deficit with 7:30 to play in Monday evening's Colonial States Athletic Conference first round playoff game to take a one-point lead with just over a minute to play, but Neumann College was able to escape with a 63-56 victory. With the win, the Knights improve to 17-8 on the season advance to the CSAC Semifinals where they will take on second-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy College on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Gwynedd Valley, PA.
With the score tied at 12-12 early in the first half, the Knights went on a 10-0 run to take a 22-12 lead before Pacers answered with eight straight points to cut the lead to two, 22-20.
Neumann's Krista DiRomualdo then hit a three-pointer with 3:36 left to break the Knights' scoreless drought before Marywood then netted six points to take a 26-25 lead.
Katie Young and Alyssa Mayo (Media, PA) traded baskets. Nicole Feby hit a jumper with 11 seconds remaining the first half to give Neumann a one point advantage, 29-28, at halftime.
Neumann would take its largest lead, 13 points, 51-38, with 7:30 left in the second half, but Marywood would not go quietly and with 2:33 left, the Pacers climbed their way back to within two points. Marielle Thorsen (Belvidere, NJ) was fouled on a three-point shot with two minutes left and converted all three shots to put Marywood in the lead.
The Knight's Katie Young responded by hitting two free throws to put Neumann back up by one before Stephanie Fusaro (Bala Cynwyd, PA) answered with a jumper to put the Pacers back up by a single point.
DiRomualdo sank a three-pointer with 1:15 left to put the Knights up by two and then hit one-of-two from the line for a three point Knights advantage. Neumann stole the ensuing inbounds pass and Caitlin Agnew was fouled and made two free throws to give the hosts a five-point cushion with 18 ticks left.
Two Knights had double-doubles in the game. CSAC Player of the Year Brittany Whetts scored 17 points and 10 rebounds while Sami Borcky netted 14 points and 11 rebounds, as Neumann finished with a 57-32 edge in rebounds. DiRomualdo added 12 points as Neumann topped the Pacers for the second time in five days.
Schaeffer led Marywood with a game-high 19 points while Fusaro finished the evening with 10 points. The Pacers, who shot 35.4 percent from the floor for the game, were just 42.1 percent from the free throw line.
Marywood finishes the season with a 16-10 record after making their first playoff appearance since 2002-2003 season.
