The University of Scranton women's basketball team saw its historic season come to a close on Saturday afternoon, falling to Denison University, 55-41, in the NCAA Division III National Championship game at the Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia.
The Basics
- Final Score: Denison 55, Scranton 41
- Records: Scranton (32-1), Denison (30-2)
How It Happened
- Meghan Lamanna opened the scoring early for Scranton with a smooth mid-range jumper, setting the tone in what quickly became a defensive battle. The Lady Royals brought energy on the defensive end from the opening tip, highlighted by a steal from Kaeli Romanowski and a block from Jenna Sloan.
- Lamanna stayed aggressive early, knocking down another jumper, while Elizabeth Bennett connected from beyond the arc to give Scranton a brief edge. The two teams traded blows throughout the first quarter, with Bennett's buzzer-beating three pulling the Lady Royals within one at 11-10 after ten minutes.
- Denison began to find rhythm in the second quarter, using its pace and interior scoring to build a lead. Despite strong defensive stretches from Scranton, the Big Red created separation and took a 19-11 advantage into halftime.
- Coming out of the break, Scranton responded with one of its signature runs. Kaci Kranson and Romanowski sparked a 9-0 surge, fueled by defensive stops and transition opportunities. A three-pointer from Katie Gorski and an offensive putback from Kranson cut the deficit to one and forced a Denison timeout.
- Romanowski continued to make her presence felt on both ends, converting at the rim and at the line to give Scranton its first lead since the opening quarter. The back-and-forth battle continued through the third, with Kranson knocking down a clutch three to surpass 2,000 career points. Lamanna's late triple gave the Lady Royals a 34-33 lead heading into the fourth.
- The final quarter remained tight early, with both teams exchanging baskets. A three from Bennett briefly put Scranton back in front, but Denison responded with a decisive run midway through the period. The Big Red capitalized on key possessions down the stretch, building a double-digit lead in the final minutes and closing out the 55-41 victory.
Top Performers:
Season Recap:
- The 2025-26 season will be remembered as one of the greatest in University of Scranton women's basketball history.
- The Lady Royals finished with a 32-1 record, setting a new program mark for wins while putting together the first undefeated regular season in program history. Under the leadership of head coach Ben O'Brien, Scranton continued its tradition as a national powerhouse while elevating to new heights on the national stage.
- Scranton captured the Landmark Conference title and advanced through the NCAA Tournament with dominant performances, earning victories over Concordia-Moorhead, Bates, Otterbein, and Framingham State before defeating New York University in the national semifinal.
- The Lady Royals reached the Final Four for the 10th time in program history and advanced to their first national championship game since the 1984-85 season. Along the way, the program extended its streak to 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and recorded its third straight Elite Eight appearance.
