WASHINGTON – CUA dropped a heartbreaking 48-46 decision to Washington College on Tuesday evening in the season opener inside the DuFour Center.  The Cardinals got to within 46-44 with 1:03 to play, but that was as close as they would get.  Jill Woerner scored a game-high 16 points for CUA.

With the teams tied at six early in the first, the Shorewomen ripped off a 10-0 run to go in front 16-6 with 11:32 to play before halftime.  The Cardinals responded with six straight though, to pull within 16-12 at the 9:28 mark.

Following a Latisha Pledger layup at the 8:52 mark that made it 18-12, CUA ran off 11 straight points, topped off by a Rachel Ferri 3-pointer to put the Cardinals on top 23-18 with 6:19 to play before halftime.

The teams then went nearly five minutes without scoring before Liz Warkala got inside for a bucket for Washington College to make it 23-20 at the 1:44 mark.

A free throw by Woerner with only three seconds to go was the final point of the half and sent the Cardinals into intermission with a 24-20 advantage.

The Shorewomen scored the first four points of the second half to knot things at 24, but a 6-0 run by CUA, including a jumper by Woerner, made it a 30-24 game with 15:04 to play.

Washington College then answered with six straight to again tie the score, this time at 30, with less than 12 minutes remaining.

With the score tied at 37, the Shorewomen scored seven straight, capped off by a Kelly Mitchell trifecta at the 5:09 mark to put the visitors in front 44-37.

CUA pulled to within 44-40 following a Katarina Owunna free throw and Kelli Josephsen jumper, but Pledger sank two foul shots down the other end to make it a 46-40 game with 3:02 to play.

Back-to-back layups by Woerner brought the Cardinals to within 46-44, but CUA was never able to get any closer.

CUA shot 33% from the floor and just 20% from downtown, while Washington College connected on 29% of its field goals.

Holly Janicki joined Woerner in double figures for CUA with 10 points, while Owunna totaled seven points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two assists.  The Cardinals finished with 11 steals, led by Woerner and Rachel Ferri with three.

Mitchell led the visitors with 13 points, and Pledger totaled 10 points and 12 rebounds.  Neither team shot well from 3-point range, combining to go only 6 for 33 (18%).

CUA heads to Westminster, Md. this weekend for the McDaniel Tip-Off Tournament where the Cardinals will face Richard Stockton at 8 p.m. on Friday.