Box Score
Box Score
RADNOR, Pa. - Junior forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) once again led all scorers with 17 points, as the University of Scranton women's basketball team gutted out a tough 62-56 victory at Cabrini on Tuesday night in out-of-conference action.
The Lady Royals, who moved up to 22nd in the USA Today Division III Top 25 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll earlier today, improved to 4-0 on the year with the win. Cabrini fell to 0-4 with the defeat.
In the first quarter, Scranton came out slow in a defensive minded first 10 minutes, as the host Cavaliers opened a 16-11 lead on the Lady Royal after one. The second quarter was even more of a defensive stalemate, with Scranton outscoring Cabrini 11-7 to go into the half down just 23-22 to the Cavaliers.
Finally in the third quarter, the Scranton offense began picking up steam, as the Lady Royals outscored the Cavaliers 23-20 in the period to take a 45-43 lead entering the final quarter.
In the first four minutes of that fourth quarter, however, Cabrini looked primed to put Scranton away, as they opened with a 9-2 spurt to take a 52-47 lead on the Lady Royals with six minutes left.
Scranton then scored five straight points, capped by a three-pointer by senior Jaclyn Gantz (Havertown, Pa./Havertown) to knot the game up at 52-all with four minutes left. But, Cabrini took the lead back, and held it with under two minutes left at 56-53.
There, Scranton began a run on both sides of the floor that lifted them to a victory.
Following a layup by junior Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) that cut the Cabrini lead down to 56-55, the Lady Royals forced a missed shot on the Cabrini end. On Scranton's possession, Roman snatched a big offensive rebound off a missed three, then nailed two free throws to give Scranton the lead back at 57-56.
After another defensive stop on the Cabrini end by Scranton, Gantz was fouled after finally grabbing a defensive rebound. She then nailed two more free throws to extend the lead out to 59-56 with 31 seconds left.
Following another miss by Cabrini and Gantz defensive rebound, she had a chance to put it away at the charity stripe, but missed two free throws to give the Cavaliers life. But, the Lady Royals forced a Cabrini turnover, and after Payonk was fouled and made one free throw, Scranton took a two possession lead at 60-56 with 16 seconds left.
With under 10 seconds left, Scranton forced another Cabrini miss, and senior Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) finally put away the Cavaliers with two more made free throws after being fouled to clinch the game for Scranton.
In all, the Lady Royals scored the final nine points of the game to win it, seven of which came at the charity stripe.
Overall, Roman notched her first double-double of the year in the win with her 17 point, 10 rebound effort (which matched a career-high). Elsewhere, Gantz finished with 13 points and three assists, while Alicea ended with 10 points and had five rebounds.
Cabrini was led in the loss by Dana Peterson, who finished with 16 points.
The University of Scranton women's basketball team returns to action on Monday, traveling to King's for another out-of-conference matchup. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
--LADY ROYALS--
