WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mount Saint Mary College women's basketball nearly pulled off the upset of #15/24 Catholic University in the opening game of the Jamie Lynn Roberts Holiday Tournament.
 
The Basics
Score: Mount Saint Mary College 53, Catholic 66
Records: Mount Saint Mary College (5-4, 5-1 Skyline) | Catholic (7-1, 3-1)
 
Rapid Recap
Mount Saint Mary was looking to extend their three-game win streak but would have to get past a formidable opponent in Catholic University on their home court. WBCA has the Cardinals ranked #15 in the nation, while D3hoops has them at #24. The Knights did not start the game off well, they turned the ball over five times before scoring their first basket. Sara Cashin got the Mount rolling with a layup that finally got them on the board. The first quarter was all Catholic as they led 20-7 heading into the second. The Cardinals had their biggest lead of the game at the beginning of the quarter when they went up by 15, but the Knights did not back down. Elizabeth Lofaro, who had a team-high 17 points, knocked down back-to-back threes to spark the Mount Saint Mary offense. From here, the Knights went on a 13-2 run to make the score 24-20 Catholic with just under five minutes remaining in the half. Although the Mount shot 50% from three in the quarter and 13.3% better on the game than the Cardinals, they struggled to score in the paint and draw fouls. Mount Saint Mary had a measly six free throw attempts compared to Catholic's 28. The Knights continued to battle and their five second-quarter three-pointers, including a last-second make from Brianna Guglielmo, cut their deficit to three at the half.

With Catholic taking a 39-32 lead at the beginning of the third, the Knights responded once again as Lauren Petrie and Erin Lofaro hit back-to-back threes, cutting the Cardinal's lead to just one. A three minute scoring drought for the Mount was masked by their stupendous play on defense. Mount Saint Mary forced one of the best ball-controlling teams in the country to turn the ball over 23 times. At the 2:28 mark, Sara Cashin tied the game up 44-44 as the Knights looked to take the lead. A few free throws for the Cardinals gave them a 47-44 lead with just one quarter left to play. Catholic got off to a good start out of the break, taking a nine-point lead before who else but Elizabeth Lofaro hit her fifth shot from beyond the arc this game to make it 53-47 Catholic. This scrappy match ensued as both squads fought tooth and nail for points. Down eight, Brianna Guglielmo knocked down a mid-range jumper to cut the Knights deficit to six. From here, Mount Saint Mary struggled to score as Catholic scored nine points off free throws in the final minutes of play. The game was much closer than the score insinuates as the Knights fell to the Cardinals 66-53.

Notes and Numbers

• Elizabeth Lofaro: 17 points, 5-9 from three, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
• Casey Love: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists