Neumann Ends Pacers' Title Hopes in CSAC Semi
Alexa Gerchman had 10 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists

Neumann Ends Pacers' Title Hopes in CSAC Semi

Women's Basketball - 2/24/2016 10:22:00 PM

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Scranton, PA - Top-seeded Marywood University's quest for its first Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball title came to a halt with a 63-58 loss to No. 4 Neumann University Wednesday evening. The Knights advance to the CSAC final to face No. 3 Cabrini College, winners over second-seeded Gwynedd Mercy University, on Saturday in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

Neumann came back from an 11-deficit with 2:16 left in the third quarter. Marywood (18-8) led for the majority of the contest (22:18) before Neumann took over in the final minutes.

Gabrielle Giordano scored a career-high 27 points to couple with her 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double. Alexa Gerchman totaled 10 points and seven rebounds in her final CSAC contest.

Natasha Hessling added 11 rebounds. Courtney Murray made five blocks for her 100th of her career, putting her one shy of the school record held by Amanda Lass '10.

Neumann had a double-double from AAliya Hayes with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Lauren Legler contributed 18 points, and Nafisa Saunders put up 15 points.

Making its first career appearance on the NCAA Atlantic Region ranking at No. 7, Marywood awaits to learn of its postseason fate on Monday. The NCAA Division III women's basketball selection announcement is scheduled for 2:30 pm Monday, followed shortly by the ECAC South Region tournament bracket shortly thereafter.

The first quarter went back-and-forth with Neumann's four-point lead in the final minute cut down to one following a Giordano 3-pointer with 11 seconds from Gerchman.

Marywood carried an 11-point run into the second quarter. Giordano found Catie Nealon on a fly pattern for fast break layup to lead 19-12 with 7:19 left in the half. The Pacers' largest lead of the half (25-17) on a Gerchman jumper from Tara Steakin with 2:37 left on the clock. Hayes made a steal and a layup on the fast break to trim the Pacers' lead to five at the buzzer.

Neumann's comeback was forged on its success from the free throw line. In the first half, the Knights were 3 of 9 from the stripe. In the second half, Neumann made 20 of 23 for 87 percent. Marywood matched its season mark of 65 percent for the game.

Things looked bright for the Pacers and their roaring crowd of 1,100 strong. Giordano swished a 3-pointer from Lisa Steakin for its largest lead (39-28) with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter. A five-point run response put the Knights back to a two possession game. Nealon's toes touching the line were all that prevented her jump shot from being a 3-point play, and the Pacers went into the final intermission with a six-point lead (43-37).

Neumann started the fourth on a seven-point run, taking the lead on a Hayes free throw. Marywood's last lead came on a runner from Lisa Steakin to lead 53-52. Things looked dire under two minutes until Gerchman swiped a steal in transition and handed it to Hessling for a layup to even the score at 57 apiece. Legler cashed in a 3-pointer for the go-ahead points with 1:23 left.

Nealon stole it off Saunders to set up a pair of free throws for Lisa Steakin. Lisa Steakin went 1 of 2 from the line to make it a two-point game with 21 seconds left. Neumann's Shauntel Williams missed her first but made her second free throw that made it a three-point game with 18 seconds remaining. A missed shot from behind the arc that went off the rim was the Pacers' final attempt at second the game to overtime.

Marywood outshot the Knights by a 33 percent margin to 28.1 percent. Neumann had a 50-46 edge in rebounds. For just the second time in 24 games, an opposing bench outscored Marywood; only Nealon's eight points came from forest-green-and-gold reserves.
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