SCRANTON, Pa. – For the second consecutive night, junior Kristina Startare came through when her team need her most, as the junior hit her only three pointer of the night with six seconds left to give Cabrini a 37-35 win over No. 6 University of Scranton in the final game of the Hilton Poinsettia Classic at Scranton's Long Center.

The victory improved the Cavaliers to 6-2 on the year with their sixth consecutive win, while handing the Royals their first loss of the season.  Tonight's win is the second in a row for the Blue and White over Scranton, after suffering 10 consecutive losses in the series.  It also marked head coach Kate Pearson's first road victory over her alma mater.

Senior Amber Keys posted her sixth double double of the season, pairing 13 points and 11 rebounds.  Junior Dana Peterson added 11 points in the win.  Both were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Tonight's meeting was a battle of defensive minded clubs, that held each other to less than 27% shooting, including a combined 5-37 from three point range.  Neither team led by more than four points in a game that saw four ties and four lead changes.

The game's opening minutes were a picture of what was to come, as the team's were tied at four after five minutes of action.  The Royals held a four point lead through much
of the opening nstanza, but the Cavaliers refused to let them pull away.

Cabrini held Scranton scoreless for the final four minutes of the half, but trailed 21-20 after 20 minutes of action.  While Scranton connected on 41.7% from the field, Cabrini held it to 0-7 from three point range and forced 11 Royals' turnovers.

The Blue and White turned up its defensive pressure in the second half, as it held Scranton scoreless for a span of over eight minutes.  Despite the suffocating defense, Cabrini trailed 33-29 after a Scranton three point play with 3:45 to play.

A steal by junior Meghan Martin led to a Peterson jumper that cut the deficit in half.  The Royals pushed the lead back to four with a pair of free throws with 2:18 to play.  They
would prove to be Scranton's final points of the night.

Following a defensive stop, Keys cut the deficit to 35-34 with a traditional three point play.   A Cabrini foul with 14 seconds to play sent Scranton's Sarah Payonk to the free throw line with a chance to extend the lead with a one and one opportunity.

Keys grabbed her 11th board as Payonk missed the front end.  Senior Megan Decker found Startatre with six seconds on the clock, as the junior connected on the club's fourth three pointer of the night.

Scranton's game-winning three point attempt missed the mark, sending the Blue and White to victory.    

The Cavaliers held Scranton to just 4-28 from the field in the second half, including 1-11 from three point range.

Startare finished the night with five points, while Decker grabbed eight caroms.  

Scranton's Meredith Mesaris led the Royals (8-1) with 12 points, while Payonk grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Cavaliers will take a few days to relax before heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 28-29, where it will face No. 2 Thomas More College (6-0) and Ithaca College (6-1) at the Puerto Rico Shootout.