ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Senior forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) poured in 30 points and The University of Scranton women's basketball team played strong defense for most of the night in a 77-55 victory over Muhlenberg in the title game of the Scotty Wood Tournament.
Mesaris's 30 points marked the fifth time in her career she has scored 30 or more. She finished the night 10-for-17 from the field, including 2-for-5 from 3-point range, and made eight of 10 free throws. A day earlier, Mesaris, who was named tournament MVP, had a team-high 18 points in an opening-round 60-43 victory over Wilkes.
Scranton (4-0) also received 11 points from junior guard Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and 10 points from senior guard Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy), who canned a pair of second-half 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) also added 10 points and eight rebounds in the win.
The Lady Royals held Muhlenberg to just 35.7 percent (20-for-56) from the field and forced 15 turnovers in the victory.
The Lady Royals pulled away midway through the first half to take a 32-25 halftime lead. Mesaris then scored seven points in a 13-3 run to open the second half that gave Scranton a double-digit lead it would not relinquish.
Senior guard Lia DiSciascio (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with five points, all in the second half, to go along with two steals, an assist and a rebound. She had 12 points, nine rebounds, five steals, two blocks and an assist a day earlier against Wilkes.
Fluehr added five assists, five rebounds and a steal, Alicea had four steals, three assists and three rebounds, and sophomore forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) added four points, six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block.
Scranton finished the night shooting 54.2 percent (26-for-48) after shooting over 60 percent for most of the game. The Lady Royals made seven of 13 3-pointers and finished 18-for-23 from the 3-point line. They won the rebounding battle, 32-28, and committed just 12 turnovers, including just three in the second half.
The Lady Royals are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 25, when they play their home opener against King's at 5:30 p.m. in the Long Center.
--LADY ROYALS--