CORTLAND, N.Y. – The No. 2 University of Scranton women's basketball team used a dominant defensive effort and a balanced scoring attack to take down No. 7 SUNY Cortland, 69–50, on Tuesday night in a top-10 road contest.
The Basics
- Final: No. 2 Scranton 69, No. 7 Cortland 50
- Records: No. 2 Scranton (2–0), No. 7 Cortland (1–1)
How It Happened
- Scranton set the tone early with a 22–11 first-quarter lead behind the interior duo of Katie Gorski and Kaci Kranson. Kranson knocked down an early three and went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line in the opening frame, while Gorski powered through the lane for three quick layups.
- Elizabeth Bennett provided a spark off the bench with seven points including a three late, while Sophia Talutto added a pair of buckets in the opening period for Scranton. Defensively, the Lady Royals forced five turnovers in the frame.
- Cortland briefly closed within six in the second quarter before Scranton extended the margin. Marisa Francione buried a three, followed by two more triples from Kranson and Meghan Lamanna to push the lead to 46–28 by halftime.
- In the third, the Lady Royals' defense tightened again—forcing three turnovers in the quarter and holding Cortland to 13 points. Kranson continued to control the game with timely buckets and trips to the line, while Kaeli Romanowski connected on a three and the Lady Royals led 60-41 entering the fourth.
- Scranton sealed the victory with a poised final period capped off by Lamanna's second three-pointer and a jumper from Kranson to stretch the lead to 19.
Top Performers
By the Numbers
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Scranton shot 40.4% from the field and 36.4% from three.
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The Lady Royals forced 20 turnovers and held a 26–11 edge in bench points.
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Scranton also finished with a 12–3 advantage in second-chance points and led by as many as 21.
Up Next: Scranton travels to New Jersey City University on Thursday, Nov. 13, for a 7:00 p.m. contest in Jersey City, N.J.
