Pearson Earns 100th Win as Cavaliers Top Neumann for 9th Straight Win

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ASTON, Pa. – Cabrini women's basketball head coach Kate Pearson stepped into the Cavaliers' history book today, as the Blue and White earned a hard fought 61-52 victory at Neumann University this afternoon.

The win extended the Cavaliers' current win streak to nine game and improved the club to 15-3 overall and a perfect 9-0 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

The triumph also gave Pearson her 100th victory on the Blue and White sideline, making her just the second coach in program history to accomplish the feat.  In just over five seasons, Pearson owns a career record of 100-49, including a pair of CSAC championships.

Pearson joins Dan Welde, who won 232 games from 1987-2001, as the only women's basketball coaches to reach the century mark.  

Senior Megan Decker led the Cavaliers with a career high 20 points to go with a season high 11 rebounds.  Junior Dana Peterson added 11 points, while classmate Kristina Startare paired nine points and eight boards.

Sophomore Renee Oliver tallied eight points and senior Amber Keys secured eight caroms.

The Blue and White jumped out to an early lead, building a 16-6 cushion just over six minutes into the action.  The Knights responded, chipping away at their deficit until they tied the score at 28 in the final minute.   Peterson's lay-up just before the buzzer sent the Cavaliers into the half clinging to a 30-28 lead.

Neumann scored the first five points of the second half, regaining the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.  The advantage was short lived, as a Decker jumper put the Blue and White ahead.  

The Cavaliers extended their lead to five points twice over the next several minutes, but the Knights would not allow them to pull away.  A 10-1 Neumann spurt allowed the Knights to regain the lead and extend it to 47-43 at the 7:22 mark.

The Blue and White had an answer, as Startare and Decker scored the game's next seven points to give Cabrini the lead for good.

Neumann came within 50-49 with 4:24 to play before the Cavaliers sealed the win with a 10-1 run.

Despite struggling from the three point and free throw lines, the Blue and White relied on its defense and rebounding to earn today's win.  The Cavaliers forced nine second half turnovers, converting them to 14 points.  Cabrini also outrebounded the Knights 43-34, including 13 offensive boards.

Four Knights (7-10, 4-4 CSAC) recorded 10 points, including Jessica Metzger who also grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.

The Cavaliers will return to action on Wednesday, when they visit Rosemont College (7-9, 3-4 CSAC) .   Game time is slated for 6 p.m.