WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior forward Erin Frederick posted 18 points and nine rebounds, but the third-seeded Drew University women's basketball lost by a final of 81-66 at second-seeded Catholic University in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference Championships Thursday evening.

Sophomore guards Gwen Alberici (11 points) and Joey Meyers (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Rangers (3-4), who were making their debut in the Landmark Conference playoffs.

Erin Doherty scored 24 points to lead the Cardinals (7-2), who advance to the Landmark championship game to face top-seeded Scranton on Saturday. Amanda Johnson added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Drew outscored the Cardinals 12-7 to start the game, but Catholic answered with an 8-0 run and assumed a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

A pair of free throws from freshman forward Jamie Struble put the Rangers up 23-21 midway through the second quarter, but that's when the Cardinals used a 13-2 run to open up a nine-point advantage. Sophomore guard Kyra Mann hit a jumper with nine seconds left in the half to make it a 40-31 game at the half. 

Meyers and Frederick each scored a bucket in the opening minutes of the second half to slim the lead down to five, and a conventional 3-point play from Alberici midway through the quarter made it 54-48. However, the Cardinals pushed the lead to 12 (66-54) at the end of the third quarter. 

A jumper from Meyers cut the deficit to eight early in the final period, but Catholic used an extended 9-2 run to go up 75-60. The Rangers were unable to get closer than 11 the rest of the way.

Drew closed out its season with a pair of non-conference games next week. The Rangers visit Yeshiva at 7 p.m. on Monday before hosting Stevens at 7 p.m. next Thursday.