Pacers Triumph over Knights, 75-63
Nora Joyce scored a career high 24 points versus Neumann

Pacers Triumph over Knights, 75-63

Women's Basketball - 1/19/2015 8:12:00 PM

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Scranton, PA - Marywood University junior guard Nora Joyce scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Pacers to a 75-63 victory over Neumann University Monday in Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball action. It marks the Pacers' first regular season win over Neumann since the 2011-12 season. 

Marywood (9-5, 4-2 CSAC) trailed by as many as 15 points in the first 9:30 before steamrolling the Knights the rest of the first half. Following a traditional three-point play from Jessica Schlesman to put Neumann ahead 23-8, Marywood went on a 19-point run. Joyce and Ashley Murray combined to hit six consecutive shots from beyond the arc.

Joyce went 11 for 18 (61 percent) from the field, in addition to two assists and two steals. Maggie Presnal reached double figures for the seventh time in eight games with 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Presnal went 8 for 10 from the charity stripe. 

Ashley Murray engineered an early Pacer comeback with all 17 of her points coming in the first half. Murray hit a season-best five 3-pointers. She secured seven rebounds. 

Schlesman ended the seven-minute scoring drought for Neumann (7-9, 4-3 CSAC); however, a seventh straight 3-pointer -- this from Murray via Joyce -- gave Marywood a surprising 30-25 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the half. Neumann could muster just a pair of Schlesman free throws the rest of the way, and four straight points from Presnal kickstarted an eight-point run to close the half. Catie Nealon ended the scoring barrage when she attacked the lane for a layup to send the Pacers into the break with a 38-27 lead. 

The numbers during the final 11:30 of the first half were bleak for the Knights: Marywood closed on a 30-4 run. Neumann made just a lone field goal to shoot 6.25 percent from the field in that time; conversely, the Pacers shot 10 for 19 for 52.6 percent during that span. 

After Danielle Terranella made a nice fake in the paint for a layup, Neumann eked back with an eight-point run to trim the lead to 46-42 with 11:26 left. Three Joyce baskets soon enabled the Pacers to garner a double-digit lead, and the Knights did not come within striking distance the rest of the way. 

Neumann was led by Schlesman's 18 points, five assists and three steals. Sarah Roberts had 13 points, and Lauren Legler provided 12. 

Marywood returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Gwynedd Mercy University at 6:00 pm. The Pacers host Notre Dame of Maryland University Saturday at 2:00 pm. 
 
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