WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic University women's basketball sophomore Erin Doherty scored a career-high 24 points as the Cardinals posted an 81-66 victory over Drew in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference Women's Basketball Championship Thursday.

With the win, Catholic (7-2) advances to the conference championship for the seventh time overall and the fifth time in the last seven years.

Doherty scored 19 of her 24 points in the second half, going 7-for-9 from the floor and 2-for-3 from three-point range.

Meanwhile, junior Amanda Johnson totaled her second career double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Her first career double double also came against the Rangers at home back on Feb. 5 in the season opener for both teams when she had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Johnson averaged 14.0 points and 10.0 rebunds in three meetings against Drew this season.

Unlike the first two meetings against the Rangers (3-4), the Cardinals did not find themselves down early. In the first meeting on Feb. 5, the team trailed 17-12 after the first quarter and 36-23 at halftime. In the second contest on Feb. 24, Catholic was behind 14-4 after one and 26-12 at the half.

Tonight, the Cardinals led after the first, 15-14. Thanks to seven points from senior Lauren Quesada and six from sophomore Sammie McCarter, the team outscored Drew 25-17 in the second quarter to take a 40-31 advantage into the break.

McCarter and Johnson each had nine points in the first 20 minutes while Johnson added seven rebounds.

Doherty scored 13 points in the third as Catholic extended its lead to 12 after three before pushing it to as many as 17 in the fourth.

McCarter finished with a season-high 13 points while Quesada totaled eight points and six rebounds, both season highs. Sophomore Amelia Baldo had seven points and five assists.

The Cardinals advance to Saturday's championship game where they will face rival Scranton for the sixth time overall and the fourth time inside John Long Center. The two teams have combined to win 11 of the 13 Landmark Conference championships, including the last nine-straight.