#25 Muhlenberg Beats Catholic to Advance to NCAA Second Round
ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Junior Alita Zabrecky (Center Valley, Pa.) scored 19 points and added eight rebounds to lead No. 25 Muhlenberg (Pa.) to a 63-54 victory over Catholic (D.C.) in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex at the University of Mount Union on Friday.
Zabrecky scored 11 points in the first half as Muhlenberg (23-5) built a 29-23 lead. That advantage stretched to as many as 17 points (44-27) with 13:43 remaining in the game before Catholic (22-6) mounted a comeback.
The Cardinals got as close as six points (57-51) in the final minute but no closer.
Senior Alexandra Chili (Rockville, Md.), a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, awarded to the national player of the year, finished with 18 points for the Mules, who advanced to play either host Mount Union or La Roche (Pa.) on Saturday at 7pm. Sophomore Leeann Lanza (Colts Neck, N.J.) added 12 points.
Junior Katarina Owunna (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored 19 points and added 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season to lead Catholic.
Junior Jill Woerner (Providence, R.I.) added 13 points and junior Kelli Josephsen (West Caldwell, N.J.) finished with seven points and 11 rebounds.
The Cardinals outrebounded Muhlenberg 48-38 but shot just 28.6 percent for the game (18 of 63) and committed 14 turnovers.
Newspaper Box Score
Catholic (D.C.) vs Muhlenberg (Pa.)
03/02/12 5 pm at The MAAC - Alliance, Ohio
MUHLENBERG (PA.) 63, CATHOLIC (D.C.) 54
CATHOLIC (D.C.) (22-6)
Katarina Owunna 7-19 5-5 19; Jill Woerner 5-13 3-4 13; Kelli Josephsen 1-45-6 7; Emily Grabiak 1-9 2-2 5; Rachel Ferri 1-3 0-0 3; Holly Janicki 1-80-1 3; Claire McEvily 1-3 0-0 2; Liz Briones 1-3 0-0 2; Karlyn Dixon 0-1 0-00; Jenny McGann 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-63 15-18 54.
MUHLENBERG (PA.) (23-5)
Alita Zabrecky 7-16 5-5 19; Alexandra Chili 6-19 2-4 18; Leeann Lanza 5-112-2 12; Kate Clawson 2-4 0-0 6; Erin Laney 2-6 1-2 5; Hannah Rush 0-2 3-4 3;Kimberly Mui 0-0 0-0 0; Katy Mitton 0-0 0-0 0; Kathleen Naddaff 0-2 0-0 0;Katy Rossino 0-0 0-0 0; Colleen Caldwell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-60 13-17 63.
Catholic (D.C.)............... 23 31 - 54
Muhlenberg (Pa.).............. 29 34 - 63
3-point goals--Catholic (D.C.) 3-17 (Rachel Ferri 1-3; Holly Janicki 1-6;Emily Grabiak 1-4; Liz Briones 0-1; Jill Woerner 0-3), Muhlenberg (Pa.) 6-20(Alexandra Chili 4-9; Kate Clawson 2-3; Hannah Rush 0-2; Alita Zabrecky0-6). Fouled out--Catholic (D.C.)-None, Muhlenberg (Pa.)-None.Rebounds--Catholic (D.C.) 48 (Katarina Owunna 11), Muhlenberg (Pa.) 38(Alita Zabrecky 8). Assists--Catholic (D.C.) 6 (Holly Janicki 2; EmilyGrabiak 2), Muhlenberg (Pa.) 19 (Colleen Caldwell 5). Total fouls--Catholic(D.C.) 15, Muhlenberg (Pa.) 14. Technical fouls--Catholic (D.C.)-None,Muhlenberg (Pa.)-None. A-257
2012 NCAA Women's Basketball first round game - Muhlenberhg advances to the second round Saturday at 7 pm.
