RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini women's basketball team made its reservation for Saturday night's Colonial States Athletic Conference championship game with tonight's 78-59 semifinal round win over Gwynedd Mercy.  The victory improves the club to 22-4 and sends it to its ninth championship game appearance and second in a row.

Immaculata (19-8) stands between Cabrini and its second consecutive CSAC title, as the Mighty Macs topped Neumann 60-53 in tonight's other semifinal.  The Cavaliers and Mighty Macs will meet on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Nerney Field House.  The winner will raise the CSAC trophy adn earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Six Cavaliers scored in double figures in tonight's win, including all five starters.  Junior Amber Keys recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.  Senior Brittany Sandone matched Keys' 14 points and added five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.

Junior Megan Decker paired 12 points and seven boards, while senior Annie Rivituso posted 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.  Senior Colleen Stewart and sophomore Dana Peterson added 10 points each in the win.

Both teams took a few minutes to get comfortable in the flow of the game before a 7-1 Cabrini spurt put the Cavaliers up 20-13 midway through the first half.  The Griffins cut the lead back to 22-20 with 7:14 to play but the Cavaliers closed the half on a 21-5 run, building a 43-25 lead at the half. 

All five started scored at least five points in the first half, as the Blue and White shot nearly 44% from the floor.  The Cavaliers held Gwynedd Mercy to just 10-38 from the floor and controlled the glass to the tune of a 32-12 rebounding advantage, including 15-1 on the offensive glass.

The Blue and White showed no let-up after the break, as it increased its field goal percentage to 50%. Cabrini's lead remained at least 20 points for the first 14 minutes of the second half, growing as high as 62-33 on Keys' bucket with 11:28 to play. 

The Griffins tried to mount a late comeback, taking advantage of some Cabrini turnovers.  Gwynedd Mercy cut its deficit to 65-50 with just under six minutes to play, but despite its free throw struggles, the Blue and White connected on 7-8 from the charity stripe in the game's final minutes.

Cabrini's 56 rebounds are the second most in any game this season.  The Blue and White's +30 rebound advantage is the team's largest since a 61-29 advantage in last season's 70-35 win over Western New England.

Senior Nicole Dougherty led the Griffins (15-12) with 21 points, including 4-5 from three point range, while junior Kelsey Yori tallied 12 points.

Cabrini rallied for a 59-48 at Immaculata two weeks ago in their only meeting this season.  Trailing by a game high 11 points just 50 seconds into the second half, the Blue and White went on a 17-2 run over the next seven minutes to build a 39-35 lead with 12 minutes to play.  Rivituso and Keys led the spurt, combining for 11 points during the span.

With 8:30 to play and Cabrini hanging on to a 41-40, Sandone took over.  The senior knocked down three pointers on the next four consecutive possessions, leading the Cavaliers on a personal 12-2 run, extending the lead to 53-42 with 4:20 on the clock.

Sandone scored a game high 18 points, while Rivituso finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.  Keys posted 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Decker matched a career high with 13 rebounds and recorded a career best eight steals