GETTYSBURG, Pa.—First-year guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./Saint Rose) made the most of her playing time in The University of Scranton's 68-53 victory over St. Mary's (Md.) in the opening round of the Days Inn Tournament Sunday evening.
Sweeney came off the bench and connected on 6 of 8 shots from the field in 14 minutes of action to help the Lady Royals move into tomorrow afternoon's championship game against Gettysburg College, which defeated Randolph College (Va.), 88-38, in the other semifinal game.
Scranton, returning to action for the first time since a 56-39 loss to fourth-ranked Kean University on December 21, also received 12 points from senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional), nine points and seven rebounds from sophomore guard/forward KC Hawkes (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Central Catholic), eight points and four rebounds from sophomore forward Tayler Pallotta (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) and seven points apiece from junior forward Sarah Gage (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury), senior guard Jennifer King (Taylor, Pa./Riverside) and sophomore guard Christina Hiltunen (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney).
Kopecki got the Lady Royals rolling in the first half, connecting on 5 of 9 shots from the field as Scranton built up a 32-19 advantage by halftime. Sweeney took up the slack in the second half, connecting on 4 of 5 shots from the field as Scranton continued to build up its lead, which peaked at 22 points with 8:15 left.
Scranton, now 7-3, will look to win its second Days Inn Tournament in three seasons, having captured the crown with victories over Gettysburg, 66-62 in overtime, and Kean, 77-52, on January 2-3, 2009.
News & Notes: Sweeney's previous season-high was 10 points against William Paterson and DeSales on November 20 and November 21, respectively, at the Starters' Pub Tip-Off Tournament at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania…the Lady Royals are 4-0 lifetime against Gettysburg College since the series began February 23, 1985…tomorrow's third-place game between Randolph and St. Mary's will tip-off at 2:00 p.m., followed by Scranton and Gettysburg at 4:00 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score
SCRANTON 68, ST. MARY'S 53
ST. MARY'S (6-3)
Pui Sham 4-9 0-0 12; Sophie Pruden 3-7 3-6 9; Raven Owens 2-2 2-2 7; Jasmine Jones 3-8 0-2 7; Myeisha Wallace 1-6 2-3 4; Aura Payne 2-10 0-0 4; Jamie Roberts 2-5 0-0 4; Shana Lewis 2-8 0-0 4; Taylor Petrisko 1-1 0-0 2; Jasmine Smith 0-0 0-0 0; Bridget Wilkins 0-2 0-0 0; Marche Pearson 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 20-59 7-15 53.
SCRANTON (7-3)
Alison Sweeney 6-8 0-0 13; Megan Kopecki 6-10 0-0 12; KC Hawkes 3-11 3-4 9; Tayler Pallotta 3-6 2-2 8; Sarah Gage 3-10 1-2 7; Christina Hiltunen 2-4 2-2 7; Jennifer King 2-6 2-4 7; Katie Cunningham 1-3 0-2 3; Courtney Roselle 1-1 0-0 2; Katie Sherry 0-1 0-0 0; Brianna Reigstad 0-1 0-0 0; Sidney Jaques 0-1 0-0 0; Colleen McLane 0-4 0-0 0; Shernai Bentley 0-1 0-0 0; Katherine Torto 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 27-72 10-16 68.
St. Mary's.................... 19 34 - 53
Scranton.... 32 36 - 68
3-point goals--St. Mary's 6-16 (Pui Sham 4-8; Raven Owens 1-1; Jasmine Jones 1-3; Aura Payne 0-3; Bridget Wilkins 0-1), The University of Scranton 4-22 (Katie Cunningham 1-3; Jennifer King 1-5; Alison Sweeney 1-2; Christina Hiltunen 1-2; Sidney Jaques 0-1; Colleen McLane 0-2; Katherine Torto 0-3; KC Hawkes 0-1; Megan Kopecki 0-3). Fouled out--St. Mary's-None, The University of Scranton-None. Rebounds--St. Mary's 50 (Sophie Pruden 10), The University of Scranton 40 (Sarah Gage 9). Assists--St. Mary's 14 (Jasmine Jones 4), The University of Scranton 17 (Megan Kopecki 5). Total fouls--St. Mary's 13, The University of Scranton 17. Technical fouls--St. Mary's-None, The University of Scranton-None. A-81