MADISON, N.J. — The Catholic University women's basketball team utilized a strong start and once again showed great balance in scoring to knock off conference opponents Drew on the road on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, the No. 15-ranked Cardinals move to 13-0 overall and 6-0 in Landmark Conference play. Matt Donohue's team continues its best start to a season in over a decade and will now have the opportunity to match the 2012-13 teams' impressive mark of 14-0 to begin that season.
The Cardinals were ready to play from the first whistle, outsourcing the hosts 18-5 in the opening quarter. In addition to ferocious defense, it was success on the glass that allowed Catholic to accumulate the early lead as the Cardinals outrebounded the Rangers 19-10 over the first 10 minutes.
Both teams got off to slow starts offensively. After Kerry Flaherty knocked down a jumpshot on Catholic's first offensive possession, neither team scored for nearly four minutes of game time until Drew nailed a three midway through the opening stanza to get on the board. After that make, Catholic closed the period on a 16-2 run to open up a significant lead heading into the second quarter.
Catholic remained consistent on the offensive end, putting up exactly 18 points in each of the first three quarters to lead 54-34 entering the final quarter. Drew did finish strong, however, closing the game on a 15-6 run in the final stanza.
Keegan Douglas continued her breakout second season in Cardinal red, dropping a joint-game-high 14 points. The junior went 4-of-9 from the field but earned her way to the free throw line seven times, converting six of those attempts. She also added five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block while only committing one turnover in 31 minutes of action.
Flaherty also had 14 while continuing to shoot at an impressive rate on the season. The graduate transfer went 6-for-12 from the floor while converting two of her five three-point attempts and also grabbing four boards. She is shooting over 45 percent both from the floor and from three-point range on the season.
Kaleigh Beirne was also in double figures with an efficient 10 points. She canned three of her four attempts from the field and did not commit a turnover in 18 minutes of action while Molly Aromando pitched in with eight points.
Sarah White provided her normal grit and toughness, grabbing 11 rebounds. She was the only player on the floor in double-figures when it came to boards and she earned extra possessions for the Cardinals on three occasions with offensive rebounds. Anna Scoblick and Carly Mulvaney had nine rebounds apiece as Catholic won the battle on the glass comprehensively, 51-39.
The Cardinals now have five days to prepare for what is a massive Landmark Conference tilt. Many eyes will be on Franny Murray Court on Friday night as the Cardinals will put their unbeaten record on the line against rivals Scranton in a top-15 match-up. Tip-off against the No. 5-ranked Royals is set for 7 p.m.
