The University of Scranton women's basketball team (25-2) captured a ninth straight Landmark title with a 57-48 victory over Catholic last weekend and is now set to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament beginning Friday night at the John Long Center. Scranton will host Framingham State (24-2) in a first round matchup tomorrow at 8:15 p.m.
Friday's other first round matchup features Ohio Northern and Marymount at 5:45 p.m. and the two winners will then play for a spot in the Sweet 16 on Saturday night at 7:45 p.m.
Tickets for both days are cash only and are $15 for adults (18+) and $10 for students, children ages 2+ and seniors 61 and over.
The first 175 University of Scranton students to show their Royal ID will be admitted free of charge to Friday's game.
Friday marks the second all-time meeting between the two programs with the lone previous matchup, a 91-65 Scranton victory on Nov. 16, 2001.
Scranton is making the program's 36th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time and advanced to the second round a season ago after an opening round win over Saint Joseph's (ME).
Sophomore guard Kaeli Romanowski (Lake Ariel, Pa./Western Wayne) earned Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors earlier this week as she leads the conference in both steals (85) and steals per game (3.3). The Lake Ariel, Pa., native has played in 26 games (25 starts) and has averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Romanowski and fellow sophomore guard/forward Kaci Kranson (Scranton, Pa./Holy Cross)Â earned All-Landmark First Team honors, while senior forward Maddy Ryan (Malvern, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) was named to the Second Team.
Kranson leads the Landmark in scoring at 16.1 points per game and also ranks among the leaders in free throw percentage (80.0%, 2nd), field goal percentage (45.0%, 3rd) and rebounding (6.9, 9th).
For Ryan, the Malvern, Pa., native has averaged 9.1 points per game on 45.0% shooting from the floor to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
Freshman Meghan Lamanna (New Providence, N.J./New Providence)Â ranks sixth in the conference in three-pointers made with 41 and earned Landmark Rookie of the Year accolades.
In Saturday's 57-48 victory over Catholic, senior Maddie Hartnett (Chatham, N.J./Chatham)Â scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to earn MVP honors.
The Lady Royals rank among the national leaders in scoring defense at 46.7 points per game, a total that is fifth in all of Division III. On the season, head coach Ben O'Brien's team has held opponents to 50 points or less 17 different times.
Framingham State captured the MASCAC title with a 74-62 victory over Bridgewater State on Saturday behind 21 points from Kelsey Yelle and 18 points and 14 rebounds from Flannery O'Connor.
O'Connor is the team's top scorer and rebounder on the year at 16.6 points per game and 11.4 boards per game, while Yelle checks in at 15.5 ppg. Gwendolyn Carpenter averages 9.5 ppg and is the nation's assists leader at 7.4 per game.
If you can't make it to the John Long Center this weekend, click the following links for live video and live stats. All three games this weekend will be streamed free of charge.Â
Click here to view the full 2024 NCAA Division III women's basketball bracket.
--LADY ROYALS--
