Pacers Triumph over Colonels in Home Opener
Lisa Steakin collected 10 points, five rebounds to help the Pacers

Pacers Triumph over Colonels in Home Opener

Women's Basketball - 11/30/2015 9:34:00 PM

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Scranton, PA - Marywood University scored the first 12 points of the game en route to a 76-64 victory over Wilkes University Monday in its women's basketball home opener. The Pacers kept the Colonels scoreless for the first 6:16 of the contest.

Catie Nealon scored a career-high 18 points after making four of eight 3-pointers. Nealon scored 14 of her points in the first half and added five rebounds and three assists.

Gabrielle Giordano provided 13 points and five rebounds. Lisa Steakin's 10 points was her highest total since putting up 11 against Franklin & Marshall in November 2013, in addition to five rebounds.

Natasha Hessling had a season-best 10 rebounds and was two points shy of her first double-double. Courtney Murray blocked four shots. Rory Jordan totaled nine points and six rebounds.

Wilkes (1-4) had both five players in double figures and five players with five fouls. Chelsea Smelas led the Colonels with 17 points. Haley Mesaros tacked on 13. Both Cara Basile and Jamie Campbell provided 11 points. Emily Sofranko had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Jordan put the Pacers (2-2) ahead seven-nil on an old-fashioned three-point play. Nealon ended nearly three minutes of scoreless action with a trey off a Giordano dish. Jordan made a layup on a pinpoint Nealon pass for a 12-0 lead with 4:19 left in the first quarter. Nealon made two more clutch threes directly following Wilkes baskets to send the Pacers into the first break with an 18-11 lead.

The second quarter was all Marywood with a 22-13 advantage on the scoreboard to go into halftime with a commanding 40-24 lead. Danielle Castellanos hit a pair of free throws to finish the half. Marywood's depth showed with the bench outscoring Wilkes by a 17-2 margin.

Wilkes came to within single digits once in the second period when a pair of Mesaros free throws cut the Marywood lead to 58-50. The Pacers responded with a six-point run, five scored by Alexa Gerchman.

Marywood shot 36.8 percent for the game to Wilkes 38.5 percent from the field. The Pacers made 40 percent (8 of 20) from beyond the arc. Rebounds were no longer a concern for Marywood, thanks toa 45-33 advantage off the glass.

The Pacers open their Colonial States Athletic Conference season with an away game at rival Keystone College in a rematch of last year's First Round playoff tilt.



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