WASHINGTON – Behind a strong defensive effort and a very quick start, CUA downed TCNJ 59-37 on Tuesday evening inside the DuFour Center.  The Cardinals held the Lions to 24% shooting and sprinted out to a 33-11 halftime lead en route to their 14th win of the season.  TCNJ falls to 13-7 following the setback.

CUA wasted little time in taking control of this one, racing out to a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes. 

One minute later, Holly Janicki's 3-pointer extended the lead to 15-4, but TCNJ's Kelly Coughlin sank two free throws to bring the Lions within nine.

An Emily Grabiak trifecta at the 9:35 mark began a 12-0 run by the Cardinals that ended with Claire McEvily's layup as CUA opened up a commanding 29-8 lead.

Rachel Ferri's jumper with just over a minute to play put CUA in front 31-11 and Liz Briones' basket right before the halftime buzzer sent the Cardinals into the locker room with a 22-point cushion.

CUA began the second half much the same way it began the first, reeling off the first 10 points to extend to a 32-point lead with 17:35 left in the game.

The lead reached 34 on Katarina Owunna's basket at the 13:32 mark, but TCNJ ran off 11 straight to get within 50-27 with 10:29 remaining.

Back-to-back baskets by Jenny McGann and Kelli Josephsen pushed the lead back to 27 with 8:11 to play though, and after Karlyn Dixon splashed a 3-pointer at the 4:23 mark CUA was on top by 29.

Owunna led the way offensively for CUA, scoring 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting, and she also ripped down nine rebounds.  Grabiak scored 10 points, and McGann and Jill Woerner finished with eight apiece.

The Cardinals held a 47-32 advantage on the backboards with Josephsen pulling down seven, and McGann finished as the team leader in assists with five. 

Kelly Coughlin tossed in a team-high nine points for the visitors, but TCNJ shot just 18% in the first half and 27% in the second half.

CUA will be back in action on Friday evening when the Cardinals play host to Landmark Conference foe Scranton.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from inside the DuFour Center.