MORRISTOWN, N.J. - The College of Saint Elizabeth's women's basketball team (11-6, 9-3 NEAC) defeated Penn State Abington to earn a NEAC playoff birth, 80-76 on Tuesday evening.

Both teams fought back and forth in the first quarter as the Eagles scored four straight points midway through to tie the game at 10.  With the game tied at 14, Rakiyah Sellers buried a three-pointer to give the Eagles a 17-14 advantage.  Trailing by one, Abington hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to take a 21-19 lead into the second quarter.

With the game tied at 21, Abington ran off the next 10 points to take a 31-21 lead with 6:39 remaining in the quarter.  Over the next three minutes, the Eagles scored the next nine points to get within 31-30.  Neither team would lead by more than four over the final four minutes as Abington took a 44-41 lead into halftime.

To begin the third quarter, the Eagles scored five straight points to take a 48-46 lead, its first of the second half.  With 4:33 remaining in the period, Kamille Jacobs knocked down a three-pointer to give the Eagles a six-point lead, its largest of the game.  CSE continued to lead over the final four minutes as it took a 61-57 lead into the final quarter.

The Nittany Lions started the fourth quarter by scoring the first six points to regain a 63-61 lead.  Trailing 65-64, the Eagles scored the next eight points to take a 72-65 lead.  The Nittany Lions would get to within three, but the Eagles knocked down several clutch free throws over the final two minutes to take the game, 80-76.

With the win, the Eagles clinch a NEAC playoff birth for the first time since 206-17.

Jacobs led the Eagles with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists.  Maria DeVincenzo and Deja Ingram finished with 15 points while Kamani Williams added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

CSE returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Cobleskill for a 1 pm tip.