Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the first time in 337 days, a team from Catholic University played a game at home. On Friday night, the women's basketball team dropped its season opener to Drew on Franny Murray Court, 76-71.
However, for head coach Matt Donohue, it was about much more than that.
"The biggest thing for me takeaway wise is we got to play basketball tonight," said Donohue. "I can not begin to articulate what that means to all of us and I can't begin to thank our administration enough for the leadership and all that they've put in to getting us to today. This too will pass. I am going to take away a lot of excitement out of having gotten to step on the sideline today."
The Cardinals (0-1, 0-1 LC) were the first team since March 12, 2020 to play in an NCAA contest and the first to do so on campus since the baseball team hosted No. 7 Randolph-Macon on March 5, 2020.
As for the numbers, junior Amanda Johnson posted the first double double of her career with 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Her 16 points were four shy of her career high set at Drew on Feb. 22, 2020.
Johnson totaled 15 points and six rebounds in the second half as the Cardinals outscored the Rangers, 48-40. Catholic shot 40-percent from the floor in the second half after just 23.1 percent in the first.
Drew (1-0, 1-0 LC) led by as many as 14 points with 9:04 remaining in the third quarter before the Cardinals outscored the Rangers 30-15 over the next 10 minutes to take their first lead since the 1:51 mark of the first quarter, 54-53.
However, back-to-back three-pointers by Kyra Mann and Joey Meyers and five second-chance points contributed to a quick 10-3 spurt by the visitors and pushed their lead back to six with under six minutes to play.
Catholic pulled within one following a layup by freshman Kathryn Greenhut with 1:55 left, but Drew scored on four of its final five possessions and sank all four free throws in the final 24 seconds to preserve the victory.
Greenhut got the start in her college debut and finished with eight points and four rebounds. Meanwhile, classmate Kaleigh Beirne scored 12 points in her first collegiate contest and reigning Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year Rachel Bussanich had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Sophomore Amelia Baldo totaled five points, five rebounds and seven assists while sophomore Erin Doherty had eight points and five rebounds.
Meyers and Sekya Campbell both posted double doubles for Drew with Meyers totaling 16 points and 10 rebounds and Campbell adding 23 points and 19 rebounds, both career highs.
Catholic travels to Madison, N.J. on Sunday for a rematch with the Rangers. Tipoff from Baldwin Gym is at 4 p.m.
