RADNOR, PA – The Rowan University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday afternoon, 77-75 in overtime to Cabrini College at the Cabrini Holiday Classic.
 
It was the final non-conference contest of the season for the Profs. Rowan has an overall record of 11-1 and the Cavaliers are 5-6. In the first game, Widener University defeated Eastern University, 79-70.
 
In overtime, the Cavaliers scored 11 of the first 13 points to take a 72-63 lead with 1:53 to play. Guard/forward Alex Raring (so. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) and guard/forward Ashanti Bishop (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) hit consecutive baskets to get the Profs to within five (72-67) at the 1:12 mark. After two missed free throws by Cabrini, guard Olivia Rulon (fr. Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) nailed a triple to make the score 72-70 (0:27). Guard Meghan Martin (sr. New Market, MD/Linganore) made two free throws for a 74-70 advantage (0:23).
 
Guard Summer Crilley (so. Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit) then connected on a three-pointer to trim the deficit to one (74-73) with 21-seconds on the clock. Martin made two more from the line (0:14) and Rowan guard/forward Melissa Lake (gr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) hit a layup for a 76-75 score. Guard Tayler Holmes (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) put the Cavaliers up two (77-75) with a free throw (0:02) and the Profs could not convert a last second shot attempt.
 
Martin led all scorers with 28 points. Guard Dana Peterson (sr. Woodbridge, NJ/Bishop Ahr) recorded 15 points. Holmes added 12 points off the bench. Forward Mo O'Connell (sr. Havertown, PA/Haverford) grabbed 13 rebounds.
 
For Rowan, forward Kate Matthews (gr. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) collected her fifth double-double of the season and third straight with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Lake and Crilley each contributed with 11 points. Guard Anyssa Sanchez (jr. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) scored 10 points. Bishop and guard/forward Kaitlin Schullstrom (gr. Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) added nine and eight points respectively.
 
Rowan trailed 3-2 (8:52) then used an 11-2 run to take a 13-5 lead with 5:32 to play in the first quarter. Five different Profs contributed baskets. Cabrini responded with a 15-4 spurt, regaining the advantage at 20-17 (1:44). Peterson and Martin each scored five points. Rowan ended the period with five straight to go back in front 22-20 after one.
The teams traded baskets to start the second and Rowan held a 27-25 advantage at the 6:57 mark. The Profs collected the next 10 points and ended the half with a 37-25 lead. Sanchez contributed with four and Rulon and Schullstrom scored three apiece.
 
Cabrini tallied the first four points of the third on baskets by forward Sabrina Hackendorn (so. Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) (9:43) and Martin (8:45). Rowan responded with the next six points, four by Lake and two by Matthews to extend the advantage to 14 (43-29) with 7:07 remaining. A three-pointer by Martin cut the deficit to 10 (45-25) with 3:51 on the clock. Rowan held a 52-41 lead heading into the fourth.
 
The Profs were out in front 59-45 after a Bishop layup (8:13). The Cavaliers used the remainder of the fourth to go on a 16-2 run and tie game at 61 with 22-seconds left. Martin hit consecutive three-pointers (1:12 and 0:22) to get Cabrini even. Rowan had the final possession of regulation, but could not score and the game went into overtime. The Profs went the final 5:53 without scoring a point and their last basket was at the 8:13 mark.
 
Rowan returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at #9/11 Montclair State University at 6 p.m.