ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — At a crucial juncture of the season and coming off a tough loss to the conference leader Scranton, the Elizabethtown College women's basketball team made a statement Wednesday night in its win over Catholic at Thompson Gymnasium. The Blue Jays fought for 40 minutes and came away with a 63-58 victory to jump back up into playoff position for the time being. Rachel Forjan led all scorers with 25 points.

Catholic (14-7, 8-4 Landmark) jumped out to a six-point lead, 10-4, but Forjan got going for Elizabethtown (14-6, 7-5 Landmark). Her three-point shot brought the Jays back within three with 14:42 left in the first half.

The Cardinals got their advantage back up to seven, but could not extend it any further as E-town went on a 7-0 run with Forjan scoring five of them. The junior's second three of the first half leveled the game at 14-14.

Michelle DeSantis scored 11 of her team-high 20 points in the first half and Melissa Errico contributed nine first-half points off the bench. Errico tied the game at 31-31 after Forjan hit her fourth three of the half to give Elizabethtown a two-point lead. Errico finished off the half by collecting an offensive rebound and hitting a jumper with a second remaining to send Catholic into halftime with a 33-31 lead.

Josephine Migash scored the first five points of the second half for the Cardinals as they quickly ran out to a seven-point lead. E-town didn't fold, however. Krissy Pennell sank her first of two three-pointers to stop CUA's run. The sophomore point guard then scored the next five points for E-town to bring them within a point, 40-39.

Errico's only made basket of the second half gave Catholic a 44-41 lead, but it would be the Cardinals final lead of the game. E-town's next three made buckets were all from downtown; two from Forjan, one from Alyssa Aichele. Aichele'e trey made it 50-46 EC with 12:31 left.

The teams went back and forth the remainder of the game, Elizabethtown's lead never getting to more than four points.

DeSantis knocked home a three with 2:09 on the clock to tie the game at 58-58, but Taylor Alwine calmly sank two free throws to put E-town back ahead by a bucket. The Cardinals wouldn't score the rest of the way, but they came close.

Out of a timeout with 17 seconds to go, the ball was inbounded to Migash on the right block. Her layup attempt was no good, Alwine grabbed the rebound and the Jays got it up the court to run out the clock. Pennell was fouled with two seconds left. She split the pair, but E-town retained possession on the miss. Catholic was forced to foul Forjan, an 86-percent foul shooter, with a second showing on the clock. She sank both, giving her 25 for the night.

It was Forjan's first 20-point game since Jan. 10 against Moravian and eclipsed her point total over her past three games (20). She came within one three of tying the program's single-game record of eight. Forjan finished 7-for-13 from the floor with all her made baskets from beyond the arc (7-for-10). She was also a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line and had a career-high seven assists.

Aichele was close to a double-double with nine points and eight boards. Pennell also finished with nine points and added three assists. Emily Martin had three blocks.

The women's basketball team will celebrate Senior Day this coming Saturday, February 7, when they host Goucher for a 2 p.m. tip-off.