Christendom Crusaders Defeat Penn State Shenango in USCAA DII Quarterfinals

Buffalo, NY- The Christendom Crusaders advanced to the semifinals of the USCAA DII National Tournament in Buffalo, NY, with a dominant 86-56 win over Penn State Shenango. Behind a stellar performance from Mary Pennefather, the Crusaders showed their power on both ends of the floor, securing a commanding victory in the quarterfinals.

Pennefather led the charge with a near triple-double, recording 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists on 11-of-20 shooting. She was joined by Regina Bonvissuto, who caught fire from beyond the arc, sinking 6 three-pointers to finish with 20 points. Catherine Thomas also made a significant impact, recording a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Miranda Keller contributed with 14 points and 15 rebounds, rounding out an impressive effort from the Crusaders' frontcourt.

The Crusaders started strong, quickly jumping out to a 10-point lead after the first quarter, 22-12. Despite the solid start, Shenango managed to match the Crusaders' output in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 41-31 deficit. However, the third quarter was where Christendom truly took control of the game. The Crusaders outscored Shenango 29-9 in the frame, building an insurmountable 30-point lead by the end of the quarter.

With momentum firmly in their favor, Christendom coasted through the final period, securing the 86-56 victory to punch their ticket to the next round of the tournament.

The Crusaders will look to keep their championship hopes alive as they continue their pursuit of a national title.

Up Next: The Crusaders take on Johnson & Wales at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 13