Christendom women’s basketball is headed to the USCAA National Championship game for the second straight year. The team powered past #8 Penn State Shenango on Wednesday and #4 Johnson & Wales on Friday, earning a spot in the title game in Buffalo, New York. Now, they have the chance to make history — becoming the first Christendom team to win back-to-back national championships.
Christendom, who stunned the USCAA last year with an underdog run to their first National Championship title, entered this year’s National Championship tournament as the team to beat after going 23-2 in the regular season and winning their conference championship.
Playing as the #1 seed, the team started off their defense of their national title with a quarterfinal matchup against Penn State Shenango on Wednesday. Christendom wasted no time establishing their rhythm, racing to a 22-12 lead after the opening quarter. Regina Bonvissuto came out firing, knocking down two of her game-high six three-pointers en route to 20 points. Mary Pennefather quickly showed why she is one of the best in the USCAA as well, attacking the basket and drilling shots from deep. She would go on to lead all scorers with 29 points while also pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists.
After grabbing a 41-31 lead by the half, the third quarter was all Christendom, with the team outscoring Shenango 29-9 to put the game out of reach. Pennefather continued to pour in points, while Miranda Keller asserted her dominance in the paint. Keller finished with a monster double-double, recording 14 points and 15 rebounds, including four offensive boards that led to second-chance points.
With a 30-point lead going into the fourth quarter, Christendom maintained control, running down the clock while continuing to execute on both ends. The Crusaders’ depth took over in the final minutes, sealing their spot in the semifinals with an 86-56 victory.
To support the team’s National Championship run, visit here.
Friday’s semifinal matchup against Johnson & Wales Charlotte was a rematch of the National Championship game last year and proved to be just as thrilling. The Crusaders wasted no time seizing control, erupting for 28 first-quarter points while limiting Johnson & Wales to just 14. Pennefather led the early charge, scoring from all over the court on her way to a game-high 31 points.
Defensively, the Crusaders were aggressive from the opening tip, forcing contested shots and dominating the glass. Thomas set the tone inside, grabbing six of her game-high 18 rebounds in the first quarter alone. By the end of the first half, Christendom held a dominant 44-26 lead, putting themselves well on their way to a return to the National Championship game on Saturday.
Johnson & Wales refused to go down without a fight, however, outscoring Christendom 19-12 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 11 heading into the final quarter. Turnovers plagued Christendom in the second half, with the team committing 19 for the game — a stark contrast from the 7 they committed in their quarterfinal matchup. However, key defensive plays, including three steals from Keller and two from Pennefather, kept the Crusaders from losing too much ground.
Despite Johnson & Wales’ best efforts, including cutting the lead to only 5, Christendom buckled down in the final few minutes to seal the victory. The Crusaders’ defense returned to form just in time, holding the Wildcats to only 10 fourth-quarter points to put the game away. Final score: 71-55, Christendom.
The team will now look to be the first team in Christendom history to win back-to-back national titles, playing on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. in the USCAA National Championship game against #3 Miami-Hamilton.
The team is currently looking to raise more funds to cover costs for the tournament. To support the team’s National Championship run, visit here.
For more information, visit christendomathletics.com.