Murray's 41 Points Smash Scoring Record
Ashley Murray eclipsed the school scoring record with 41 points against the Griffins

Murray's 41 Points Smash Scoring Record

Women's Basketball - 1/22/2014 9:28:00 PM

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Scranton, PA - Ashley Murray broke the school record with 41 points scored to propel Marywood University to a 72-65 victory over Gwynedd Mercy University Wednesday in Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball. Murray shattered a 30 year old record, previously held by JJ Berbenich's 36 points against Lycoming College on Feb. 23, 1983.

Murray was lights out all game, going 12-of-24 from the field. She bagged five 3-pointers and comprised 63 percent of the team's scoring against the Griffins. After a missed free throw on her first attempt of the game that ended her school record 23rd in a row, Murray made the next 12 shots from the charity stripe. Murray's streak dated back 372 days to a Jan. 14, 2013 matchup against Immaculata University. In addition, she led the team with seven rebounds. 

The victory is Marywood's second over the Griffins (7-10, 4-4 CSAC) this season after dropping the previous six. The Pacers climb the ladder to third place in the CSAC with a 12-5 record overall and 7-2 in conference play. 

Marywood trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half. Trailing 38-25 with 17:58 remaining, the Pacers jolted ahead with an 18-2 run. Brittany Mang penetrated the hole before falling back to connect on a fadeaway jumper to tie the Griffins at 40-40 apiece at the 12:04 mark. 

Twenty five seconds later, Mang manufactured the first lead change of the second half when she whipped a no-look pass to Nora Joyce in the left corner of the corner. Joyce relayed it to Murray at the left arc for a three to give the Pacers a 43-40 lead.

Joyce was the Pacers' second highest scorer with nine points. Mang corralled five steals and seven assists. 

Gwynedd Mercy did not stand around idle, fleetingly retaking a 47-46 lead on an open Natasha Matthews layup at 7:53. On the next possession, Murray hit a 3-pointer from the corner. 

After Marywood led by as many as eight, Gwynedd Mercy's Nicole Dougherty crept back to within a possession at 60-57 with 3:34 remaining. Following a Murray layup, a pair of team technical fouls gave the Pacers four free throws. Murray made them all to extend Marywood's lead to 66-57 in just a matter of 27 seconds. The fourth free throw gave her the 37th point to break the school mark. 

Maddie Lavery's three rebounds in the final 100 seconds ensured the Pacers' victory. 

Gwynedd Mercy had four players in double figures. Kelsey Yori supplied a team-high 13 points. Dougherty went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line for 12 points. Matthews and Jordan Dominic each supplied 10. Lauren Smith had six assists, and Chandler DiFebbo posted five steals. 

Marywood shot 43.6 percent from the field to the Griffins' 36.7. Gwynedd Mercy struggled deep, successful on just 4-of-23 shots for 17.4 percent. The Pacers made seven threes for a 41.2 percent mark. 

Murray scored 30 of the team's 47 points in the second half. 

Both teams finished with similar numbers of the glass with the Pacers holding a 38-37 edge. They committed a total of 58 turnovers, and Marywood tallied a season-high 31. 

Marywood previously defeated the Griffins 70-68 on Dec. 4. Morgann Haduck hit a go-ahead jumper with 39 seconds to cap an 18-point comeback. Smith's potential game-winning buzzer beater shot rolled in and out of the basket. 

Marywood is now 12-0 when scoring 70 points or more. 

The Pacers receive a bye this weekend and return to the court on Jan. 29 at Centenary College. 
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