Box Score
Scranton, PA – Marielle Thorsen had 19 points and Stephanie Fusaro added 18 points, both season-highs, to lift Marywood University to a 75-55 win over Cedar Crest College in Colonial States Athletic Conference action Monday night, securing the Pacers' second-straight playoff appearance. Marywood, who is now unbeaten in 11 home games, improves to 16-6 on the season and 11-3 in conference play while the Falcons fall to 13-11 overall and 7-7 in the CSAC.
Fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, Cedar Crest raced out to a 9-0 lead over the first 2:53 of Monday night's contest, but Marywood responded with a 13-2 run to hold a 13-11 lead with 14:12 to play in the first half after Thorsen (Belvidere, NJ) drained a three-pointer. The Pacers would extend their lead to as many as eight points, but the Falcons battled back to claim a 28-27 advantage with 6:23 to play on a Kelly Oakes jumper.
Thorsen, who connected on four first half three-pointers, put the Pacers back in front with just 19 seconds later by connecting from beyond the arc, sparking a 12-2 run by Marywood to close the period, giving the hosts a 39-30 halftime advantage. Thorsen's 16 points led the Pacers in the half, while Oakes had nine points for the Falcons in the first twenty minutes of play.
Cedar Crest narrowed their deficit to 53-45 with 9:59 remaining in the second half, but Marywood would go on a 10-0 run over the next 2:20 to ruin any hopes the Falcons of a late comeback.
Thorsen finished with a season-high 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to complete a double-double to lead Marywood. Fusaro (Bala Cynwyd, PA) shot 8-9 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line to finish with a season-best 18 points. Mariah Schaeffer (Bainbridge, NY) added 14 points for Marywood while Amanda Lass (Brackney, PA) added a double-double of her own on 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Pacers shot 40.3 percent from the floor for the game.
Cedar Crest was led by Oakes' game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds, while teammate Lizzy Sunderhaus added a double-double as well with 10 points a game-best 15 boards for the Falcons, who shot 32.9 percent from the field for the game.
Marywood, who honored their three seniors, Erin Furlong (Albany, NY), Lizzy Green (Shenandoah, PA), and Lass before this evening's game, returns to action on Thursday evening when they visit Philadelphia Biblical University for a CSAC game scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 p.m. in Langhorne, PA.
