Lakewood, N.J. - Playing in its first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championship game as a NCAA Division II program, and seeking a CACC tournament title for the first time since 1993-94, Georgian Court University women's hoops could not seal the deal as the top-seeded Lions dropped an 81-65 decision to #2 Dominican College.

The Lady Chargers (12-1), as the 2020-21 CACC champions, receive the conference's automatic bid to next week's NCAA Division East Regional in Amherst, N.Y. (hosted by Daemen College). Georgian Court (8-1) discovers its fate when the east region bracket is formally announced Sunday evening at 10:00 p.m. on ncaa.com.

Saturday's championship contest could not have started better for the host-Lions as GCU connected on the game's first nine points. Dominican took the proverbial deep breath and chipped away at the initial deficit, outscoring the Lions, 18-13, over the remainder of the first quarter. Georgian Court held a 22-18 edge after 10:00. 

Dominican attacked immediately to kick off the second, netting six-straight points to take their first lead of the afternoon (23-22) with 8:01 to go before the break. Following three stalemates and a pair of lead changes, DC took the lead for good when Taylor Tomlinson (Jr.-Middletown, N.Y.) nailed a pair of free throws to ahead, 30-29, at the 3:09 mark. 

The Chargers would plateau at eight on three separate occasions in the final three minutes before halftime as the red and black entered intermission with a 43-35 cushion. Dominican put the game out of reach in the third period, mounting an 18-point advantage (64-46) after sporting a 19-11 run to start the session. The lead would never dip below double-digits the rest of the way en route to the DC triumph.

Tomlinson, the 2021 CACC Tournament MVP, paced the victors with a double-double performance consisting of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and two rejections. The junior also garnered three assists and three swipes in the win. Alexis Suarez (So.-Poughquag, N.Y.) netted 20 points, shooting 8-for-9 from the field, to go along with five helpers and four steals. Khay'la Latimer (Sr.-Teaneck, N.J.) registered 13 points, five boards, and a trio each of steals and assists in the win.

Anyssa Fields (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Leighanna Lister (11 points, 11 rebounds) each authored double-doubles for GCU in the setback. Hanna Thrainsdottir, who was honored after the game with the Top XVI Award for having the highest GPA (4.00) of any student-athlete participating in the tournament, provided 12 points, six boards, and three blocks in the contest. Tian Addison and Andejla Kremenovic each drained 10 points apiece.

Fields, the CACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, and Addison (All-CACC) each were named to the CACC All-Tournament squad.