Two weeks after winning the IAAM A Conference league crown, top-ranked Spalding returned to the court on Thursday in the opening round of the Bishop Walsh Invitational Tournament.
Behind a game-high 18 points from senior guard Maggie Morrison, the Cavaliers defeated Elizabeth Seton, 47-40, to advance to the semifinals round.
Spalding (28-2) trailed by four points midway through the third quarter before using a 9-0 run to take the lead. The game was back-and-forth before the Cavaliers’ Brya Freeland and Shaquilla Curtis hit free-throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Spalding, ranked No. 11 in the last USA Today Super 25 Poll, will face Good Counsel on Friday at 7:30 for a shot at the title.
No. 1 Archbishop Spalding 47, Elizabeth Seton 40
Spalding 10 9 13 14 — 47
Seton 10 7 15 8 — 40
Spalding: Morrison 18, Calhoun 7, Griffith 3, Curtis 5, Swinson 6, Freeland 8.
Seton: A. Albanese 6, J. Hubbard 4, T. Williams 4, M. Royster 11, E. Macintosh 2, K. Harris 4, M. Dunning 11.
St. John’s-DC 75, No. 4 Seton Keough 51
Seton Keough, the IAAM A runner-up, had a rough outing against nationally ranked St. John’s in the second game of the Bishop Walsh Inviational.
The No. 4 Gators, playing without 6-foot-4 center Liz Brown, fell to the Cadets 75-51. St. John’s had a considerable advantage on the glass and used it to bury Keough.
Senior guard Amber Singletary led the way for Seton Keough with 16 points. Senior forward Achiri Ade had 14 points and 14 boards, while junior Aaliyah Wilson added 11.
The Gators (20-9) will face host Bishop Walsh on Friday at 2:45 p.m. in the consolation semifinal round.
