Pacers Begin CSAC Slate with Loss to Centenary
Natasha Hessling posted 12 points for the Pacers

Pacers Begin CSAC Slate with Loss to Centenary

Women's Basketball - 11/30/2016 10:02:00 PM

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Scranton, Pa. – Marywood University's comeback fell short in a 66-63 loss to Centenary University Wednesday in its Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball home opener. The Pacers had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but were unable to put points on the scoreboard.

Gab Giordano led three Pacers in double figures with 15 points. Natasha Hessling was two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight rebounds and 12 points. Erika Thomas matched Hessling with 12 points.

Catie Nealon contributed six assists. She went 2 of 2 from the line for her 19th consecutive free throw made, dating back to a Jan. 27 win over Gwynedd Mercy.

Four Cyclones reached double figures. Rachel Edwards posted 14 points. Mallory George provided 12 points and nine rebounds. Julia Presant totaled 12 points, and Nicole Cartaino added 10.

After Thomas put the Pacers within one possession with 12 seconds left with a layup from a Nealon pass, Marywood regained control of the ball with a pair of missed free throws by Alexis Wilson.

On the restart, Thomas' open look at the tying shot caromed off the rim. Giordano missed a layup, and Hessling's jumper was off its mark to give the Cyclones the victory.

Marywood held onto a 25-16 advantage in points off turnovers. Centenary won the rebounding game 40-36. The Cyclones coughed up one more turnover (21-20) during the contest.

Centenary shot 41.8 percent from the field to the Pacers' 35.7 percent. Marywood's defense did a solid job of keeping George in check during the second half after she toasted the Pacers for nine in the first 30 minutes.

Both teams found little luck from beyond the arc. Marywood went 6 of 23 for 26.1 percent. Centenary made 5 of 16 for 31.3 percent.

The Cyclones (4-1) led for 37:27 of the game. Marywood (3-3) controlled the lead for merely 104 seconds.

Marywood was unable to overtime a six-point run in the second quarter that the Cyclones benefited largely on the charity stripe. The Pacers pushed it to a two-point game (33-31) with 4:54 left in the third; however, Centenary outscored 12-4 to take the only double-digit lead of the game on a Wilson jumper with 2:13 left.

The Pacers look to avenge last year's CSAC semifinal loss when they travel to Neumann University Saturday. 
 
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