The University of Scranton women's basketball team gave its three seniors a day to remember by turning in their best defensive performance of the season.
Already one of the top defensive teams in the nation, the Lady Royals held Elizabethtown to a season-low for opponents' points in a 69-34 victory on Senior Day in the Long Center on Saturday afternoon.
All three seniors – guards Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) and Lia DiSciascio (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), and forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) – had strong games as 14th-ranked Scranton improved to 18-2 overall and 10-1 in the Landmark Conference. The trio was honored prior to tip-off, then went out and led Scranton to its 18th win of the season.
Mesaris finished with a game-high 25 points on 9-for-12 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. She had 18 second-half points, including 10 in a 17-0 run that put the game on ice.
Fluehr had her typical strong game at point guard, handing out six assists and making three steals to go along with five rebounds and two points. She now has 490 career assists, 14 shy of equaling the Lady Royals' career record of 504 set by Kelly Halpin (1996-00).
DiSciascio finished with eight points, including a pair of free throws, along with two rebounds and an assist.
The Lady Royals set the tone on the defensive end, holding Elizabethtown (13-5, 6-5) to just 22.6 percent from the field while taking a 40-16 halftime lead. The Blue Jays finished the game shooting 25 percent (15-for-60), marking the seventh time this season Scranton has held an opponent below 30 percent from the field.
The Lady Royals entered the game ranked 24th in the country in field goal percentage allowed at 32.8, and fifth in the country in points allowed at 48.8.
Sophomore forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) had a big day, scoring 15 points, all in the first half, to go along with six rebounds (four on the offensive end) and a block. Her play inside sparked the Lady Royals to a 28-16 advantage in points in the paint.
Scranton also received a strong performance from sophomore forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford), who finished with eight points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals, including the 100th swipe of her career. Her work on the glass helped Scranton to a 47-26 rebounding edge.
Scranton shot 45.8 percent (22-for-48) from the field and made 21 of 25 free throws (84 percent). They committed 18 turnovers, but overcame the miscues with nine steals en route to forcing 15 turnovers by Elizabethtown.
The Blue Jays were led by senior forward Taylor Alwine (Elizabethtown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), who was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field en route to 12 points.
Scranton is back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 4, when the Lady Royals host Moravian at 7 p.m. in the Long Center.
--LADY ROYALS--