Amber Keys led Cabrini in scoring in its upset win. Cabrini athletics file photo

Cabrini used stifling defense and a 3-pointer with less than five seconds left to hand the sixth-ranked The University of Scranton women's basketball team its first loss, 37-35, on Thursday evening in the final game of the Hilton Scranton Poinsettia Classic.

Junior guard Kristina Startare canned a long 3-pointer, her first make in eight attempts from beyond the arc, with just under five seconds left to erase a one-point Scranton lead. A long running 3-point attempt by the Lady Royals was off the mark at the buzzer.

Neither team shot the ball well due to strong defense on both ends of the court. Scranton finished shooting 26.9 percent (14-for-52) while Cabrini hit 26.7 percent (16-for-60). The second half materialized into a true defensive slugfest with just seven points total over a span of 12:31.

The last of those seven came on a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Lexi McGivern that gave Scranton a 30-27 lead with 5:50 to play. Cabrini answered with a bucket with a little more than four minutes to play, but Scranton got a three-point play from senior guard Lindsay Fluehr for a 33-29 lead with 3:45 left.

A Cabrini basket was offset by a pair of free throws by senior forward Meredith Mesaris with 2:18 to play gave Scranton a 35-31 lead. Cabrini answered back with a 3-point play by senior forward Amber Keys to cut the deficit to 35-34 with 1:27 left.

But Scranton could not convert on a pair of possessions in the final minute, giving Startare the opportunity to can the game-winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds.

Mesaris led the Lady Royals with 12 points, sophomore forward Sarah Payonk finished with six points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, and junior guard Noelle Alicea had six points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists. Payonk and Alicea were named to the all-tournament team.

Amber Keys, who was named tournament MVP, finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, her second double-double in two days. Junior guard Dana Peterson, who was an all-tournament selection, added 10 points, three assists and two steals.

Scranton returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 28, when it takes on fourth-ranked Tufts at noon in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

--LADY ROYALS--