SCRANTON, Pa. – A big fourth quarter proved to be the difference in the game as The University of Scranton women's basketball (28-1) fell to the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen (26-3) by a score of 62-55 in NCAA Second Round action.

The Lady Royals led 43-39 at the end of three quarters, but the Anchorwomen held a 23-12 advantage in the fourth quarter to pick up the victory.

Rhode Island College held an 18-10 lead after one quarter, but the Lady Royals started to fight back and used a late 6-0 run that cut the lead to 26-23 with 1:08 to go in the second quarter following a layup by freshman Kaci Kranson (Scranton, Pa./Holy Cross). Kranson then struck again at the buzzer and Scranton trailed 28-25 headed into halftime.

Senior Bridget Monaghan (Florham Park, N.J./Morristown-Beard) opened the scoring in the third quarter with a three to tie things at 28 apiece and the back-and-forth affair would continue as four straight free throws from Kranson opened up a 38-36 lead for the hosts with 2:44 left in the period. Over the final two plus minutes of the quarter, Monaghan scored five straight points and hit a free throw at the buzzer to give Scranton the 43-39 lead headed into the fourth and final quarter. A 9-0 run in the early stages of the fourth quarter gave RIC a 48-43 advantage before Monaghan converted a three-point play that drew the Lady Royals back within a pair. Scranton had a chance to tie the game on the next possession, but a missed jumper led to eight straight points for the Anchorwomen who led 56-46 with 1:58 remaining. However, the hosts did not go down without a fight and Monaghan continued to shine as an 18-foot jumper with 0:53 to go cut the lead to five at 58-53. Kranson sank a pair of free throws to help Scranton claw back within four at 59-55, but RIC was able to hold on for the win.

Monaghan led all scorers with a career-high 34 points and Kranson added 14 points of her own, while senior Hannah Angelini (Baldwin Place, N.Y./Somers) added four points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. For Monaghan, her 34 points surpasses her previous career-high of 30 that had been set on two occasions, most recently in a win at Moravian on Jan. 19, 2022.

Angelina Nardolillo had 14 points to lead RIC and three other players scored in double figures including Madison Medbury who had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lady Royals shot 27.0% (17-of-63) from the floor and 16.7% (3-of-18) from beyond the arc. RIC was 23-of-51 (45.1%) from the field and 3-of-9 (33.3%) from deep.

Scranton also sank 18-of-20 (90.0%) from the free throw line including a 9-of-10 performance from Monaghan who ranks as the program's all-time best free throw shooter (Min. 225 attempts) at 88.7%.

The 2022-23 roster featured six seniors or graduate students in Angelini, Monaghan, Emma Duerr (Long Valley, N.J./Morris Catholic), Kyra Quigley (Drexel Hill, Pa./Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr), Sam Rajza (Plains, Pa./Holy Redeemer) and Sara Walsh (Havertown, Pa./Haverford).

--LADY ROYALS--