Christendom Surges Past Johnson & Wales to Advance to USCAA DII National Championship

Buffalo, NY – The top-seeded Christendom Crusaders punched their ticket to the USCAA DII Women's National Championship game with a commanding 71-55 semifinal victory over the #4 Johnson & Wales Wildcats.

The Crusaders wasted no time asserting their dominance, racing out to a 28-14 lead after the first quarter behind a stellar opening effort from Mary Pennefather and Catherine Thomas. Pennefather poured in 11 points in the opening frame, while Thomas added 9 to set the tone early.

Christendom maintained its momentum in the second quarter, controlling the tempo and heading into halftime with a comfortable 44-26 lead. However, Johnson & Wales refused to go down without a fight, coming out strong in the third quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Crusaders 19-12, trimming the deficit to 56-45 heading into the final period.

Faced with adversity, Christendom responded like a championship-caliber team. The Crusaders locked in defensively and took control once again, outscoring Johnson & Wales 15-10 in the fourth quarter to close out the victory.

Pennefather was unstoppable, leading all scorers with 31 points while adding 10 rebounds and 5 assists on 12-23 shooting. Thomas was a force in the paint, notching a double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds. Miranda Keller contributed a solid all-around effort with 8 points and 7 rebounds.

With the win, Christendom advances to the USCAA DII National Championship game, looking to cap off their tournament run with a title.