Box Score
Box Score
Photo gallery (by Dan Ceccacci)
Photo gallery (by Emma Black)
SCRANTON, PA. - Junior forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds - going over 1,000th career points in the process - as the third-ranked University of Scranton women's basketball team advanced with a 60-44 victory over Marymount on Saturday in the Second Round of the 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament inside the John Long Center.
With the win, Scranton remains unbeaten at 29-0 and will move into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last 11 seasons and first since 2014. The Lady Royals will play either Muhlenberg or Christopher Newport in the Third Round on Friday at a site and time to be determined.
To open the game, the visiting Saints were up to the challenge of playing the unbeaten Lady Royals in front of a capacity crowd inside the Long Center, as the game was tied on seven different occasions in the first 10 minutes, including at the end of the quarter at 16-16.
It was more of the same in the second, as each team continued to trade baskets. With 4:34 left in the first half, Marymount took a 23-22 lead on Scranton, which proved to be the last time the Saints held an advantage the rest of the evening against the Lady Royals.
For the second straight night, Scranton ended the first half on a flurry, finishing on an 8-0 run that was capped by a three-pointer by senior guard Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) with 43 seconds left that gave the Lady Royals a 30-23 lead entering intermission.
To open the second half, Marymount quickly cut the lead to three points at 30-27, but Scranton punched back, rolling on a big 10-2 run to take their first lead by double-figures all night at 40-29 with 3:36 left in the period.
Up seven late in the quarter, senior guard Jaclyn Gantz (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) put Scranton up for good with 27 seconds left, nailing a big three-pointer to put the Lady Royals up 45-35 entering the fourth quarter. In the frame, Gantz made two threes that put Scranton up by 10 points on each occasion, as well.
In the fourth, Scranton continued to put relentless pressure on Marymount to finish the Saints off for the night, as the Lady Royals outscored Marymount 15-9 in the final quarter to put the game on ice, sealing the 15th straight win at home on the season by double-figures in the process.
Overall, Roman led the way for the 19th time on the season, registering her eighth double-double of the 2015-16 campaign in the process. Scoring at least 20 points for the 13th time on the year, Roman is now one of just 26 players in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career point mark, as well.
Elsewhere, fellow junior forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) scored in double-figures for the 20th time on the year, adding 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals. Payonk also went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line, as well.
Rounding out the top scorers for Scranton was Gantz, who had 10 points. Also, Scranton had a great night at the charity stripe in the win, going 17-of-18 from free throw line.
For the second straight night, the Lady Royals defense was relentless, as they held another opponent to their lowest offensive output of the 2015-16 season. In all, the Saints shot just 32.7 percent from the floor and made only three three-pointers (3-of-14), as Scranton forced 20 turnovers.
Marymount was led in the defeat by Miranta Krott, who had 17 points.
Scranton now awaits their next opponent and site of the game, which will be announced by the NCAA by Monday. Stay with athletics.scranton.edu and follow us on Twitter @RoyalAthletics for more information as it becomes available.
--LADY ROYALS--
