Buzzer-Beater Ends Pacers' 13 Game Streak
Jordan Barth had a career day of 12 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks

Buzzer-Beater Ends Pacers' 13 Game Streak

Women's Basketball - 2/18/2017 4:39:00 PM

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Scranton, Pa. - The Marywood University women's basketball team's record 13-game winning streak came to an end Saturday in the season finale on a buzzer beater. Neumann University's Mariah Maciejewski made a game-winning lay-in as time expired to give the Knights a 56-55 win over the Pacers. 

With home court advantage already sealed, Marywood will await its opponent for Wednesday's Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball semifinal at the Insalaco Arena against the lowest remaining seed. The victory gave Neumann the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the tournament. Neumann, Gwynedd Mercy and Centenary all finished with identical CSAC records and all went 1-1 versus one another. Gwynedd Mercy beat Centenary head to head to secure the No. 3 seed, and the Cyclones are the No. 4 seed. Cabrini earned the fifth spot, and Immaculata rounds out the playoff field in sixth. 

Alyssa Olson earned a steal and hit a jumper in the paint that hit off the front rim, against the back board and into the net with four seconds remaining for a 55-54 lead with 4.2 seconds left. After three timeouts called, Nafisa Saunders took the inbound pass and cut to the baseline to draw Jordan Barth out of position. Saunders delivered a wrap-around pass to Maciejewski below the basket. 

Gab Giordano led the Pacers with 21 points with four 3-pointers. Barth finished with her second double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds, in addition to six blocks. 

Saunders came off the bench to provide the Knights with 25 points. Maciejewski, a Dunmore native, posted eight points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Legler added 11 points, and Shauntel Williams contributed nine assists. 

The Pacers' defense held the CSAC's leading scorer AAliya Hayes in check with only nine points. 

A tight game throughout, Marywood pushed ahead in the fourth quarter. Catie Nealon hit a jumper with the shot clock expiring to take a 37-36 lead. A great play from Barth to Giordano for an and-1 gave Marywood a 40-38 lead. Down 45-40, Barth drained a 3-pointer with 5:40 left. Legler responded with a long-range shot of her own with five minutes to go. 

Trailing by one, Barth blocked Saunders with 2:15 left. Giordano made a turn-around baseline jumper to even the score at 51 apiece with 1:45 on the clock. Marywood had a chance to tie the contest when Barth was fouled on a made basket. She missed the free throw to keep Neumann's lead at 54-53. 

Marywood opened the game with a 9-2 lead on three 3-pointers. Saunders rejuvenated the lifeless Knights with an 11-0 run after her entrance into the game. Giordano hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to close the first quarter at a 13-12 deficit. 

The Pacers struggled inside during the first half. Marywood made just one of 14 shots (7.1 percent) inside the arc. Fortunately, Marywood's saving grace was its long-range shooting with a 3 of 7 showing. 

Marywood found themselves down 33-25 in the third quarter before Kylie Devlin drained a 3-pointer to spark a 10-2 run. 

Both teams shot identical 34.5 percent marks from the field. Marywood made seven of  19 shots from behind the arc for a 36.8 percent clip. 

As the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season, Marywood hopes to reach its first CSAC championship game in history.
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