SCRANTON, Pa. – The No. 12 University of Scranton women's basketball team (1-0) shot a blistering 56.7% from the floor and rolled to a 98-32 victory over the Marywood Pacers (0-2) in the 2021-22 season opener on Thursday night at Insalaco Arena in Scranton.

Following a season in which the Lady Royals played only Landmark Conference opponents, this marked the first contest against a non-Landmark foe since an NCAA Tournament First Round game versus Endicott on March 6, 2020.

The 98 points are also the most the Lady Royals have scored since a 100-44 win over Rosemont on Dec. 21, 2019.

On the defensive side of things, the 32 points allowed are the second fewest in program history and the fewest that Scranton has allowed since limiting Washington U (Mo.) to 30 on Mar. 17, 2000.

Scranton came storming out of the gates in this one as graduate student Abby Anderson (Scranton, Pa./Holy Cross) scored eight of the first 11 points of the game and the visitors led 11-2 just 2:36 into the game. Following a Marywood basket on the other end, the Lady Royals closed the quarter on a 15-0 run capped by an Anderson jumper to open up a 26-4 lead after one. It was more of the same hot shooting for Scranton in the second quarter and a three-pointer from sophomore Maddie Hartnett (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) opened up a 44-8 advantage with 4:58 left in the opening half. Consecutive triples from juniors Hannah Angelini (Baldwin Place, N.Y./Somers) and Bridget Monaghan (Florham Park, N.J./Morristown-Beard) followed by four points from Anderson stretched the lead to 54-12 at halftime.

The second half was completely academic for the Lady Royals and sophomore Leah Nolan (Holmdel, N.J/Holmdel) buried consecutive threes in the final two minutes of the contest to account for the 98-32 victory.

Anderson led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and was joined in double figures by Monaghan who buried five threes for 15 points and senior Emily Shurina (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) who chipped in 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. In all, 14 different players scored in the game for head coach Nick DiPillo's team.

Hartnett added six points and seven assists in the victory to go along with five points, seven rebounds and four blocks from senior Danielle McCurdy (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan).

The Lady Royals shot the afore-mentioned 56.7% (38-of-67) from the floor and 18-of-41 (43.9%) from long range, while limiting the Pacers to a 23.3% clip from the field and 11.2% (2-of-17) from beyond the arc.

Jade Rolon tallied 11 points to pace Marywood in the setback.

Scranton held a 45-32 edge in the rebounding battle led by eight from junior Kyra Quigley (Drexel Hill, Pa./Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr).

The Lady Royals will host No. 9 DeSales in the team's home opener on Saturday night with opening tip in the John Long Center slated for 7 p.m.

--LADY ROYALS--