MADISON, N.J.—Senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) and junior forward Sarah Gage (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury) returned to the starting lineup to help The University of Scranton to a 66-55 victory over Drew University Saturday afternoon at Baldwin Gymnasium.
Kopecki and Gage, both of whom got nicked up in the Lady Royals' 76-60 win over Catholic University on Friday, January 21, scored 11 points apiece and senior guard Jennifer King (Taylor, Pa./Riverside) and first-year guard Katie Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) added 13 and 10 points, respectively, as Scranton won its fifth straight game to improve to 14-5 overall and remain in a first-place tie with Moravian College in the Landmark Conference with an 8-1 mark.
Freshman forward Logan Cavanaugh (Rutland, Vt./Burr & Burton Academy) came off the bench to lead the Rangers with 13 points, senior forward Jessica Reid (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) had 12 points and eight rebounds, and junior forward/center Victoria Ault (Middletown, N.J./Mater Dei).
King is reverting to her old self after missing two games due to a shoulder injury. She has now scored in double figures in each of her last three games to raise her scoring average to 10.2 points per game. She connected on 5 of 10 shots from the field to finish with 13 first-half points as Scranton carved out a 16-point lead at intermission.
Kopecki and Gage, each of whom missed Scranton's last two games, took over in the second half as the Lady Royals extended their lead to 21 points before a late rally by the Rangers made the final score respectable. The pair combined for 15 points after intermission.
Scranton's bench also played a pivotal role, out-scoring the Ranger reserves, 28-17, with Cunningham leading the way followed by sophomore forward Tayler Pallotta (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) with five. Sophomore guard/forward KC Hawkes (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Central Catholic) also came through with four rebounds and five rebounds after scoring eight points in 18 minutes of action in last night's 66-58 win over the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.
Defensively, the Lady Royals pressured the Rangers into 28 turnovers and held them to 35.4 percent shooting from the field (17 of 48).
Scranton will open a two-game Landmark Conference home stand next Friday, February 4, against Goucher College beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Long Center. The Lady Royals will then take on Catholic University on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
News & Notes: Scranton posted its 63rd consecutive victory over Drew…veteran Lady Royal head coach Mike Strong is one win away from the 750th of his 31-year career…Kopecki finished with six rebounds and five steals in 30 minutes of action and Gage had five rebounds and a block to go along with her 11 points.
Newspaper Box Score
SCRANTON 66, DREW 55
SCRANTON (14-5/8-1 Landmark)
Jennifer King 5-13 0-0 13; Sarah Gage 3-5 5-5 11; Megan Kopecki 4-11 3-5 11; Katie Cunningham 2-7 4-8 10; Tayler Pallotta 2-2 1-1 5; KC Hawkes 2-4 0-0 4; Shernai Bentley 1-6 1-3 3; Katherine Torto 1-2 0-0 2; Christina Hiltunen 0-0 2-2 2; Alison Sweeney 1-3 0-0 2; Courtney Roselle 1-1 0-0 2; Katie Sherry 0-0 1-2 1; Brianna Reigstad 0-0 0-0 0; Sidney Jaques 0-0 0-0 0; Colleen McLane 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-57 17-26 66.
DREW (8-12/1-8 Landmark)
Logan Cavanaugh 3-6 7-8 13; Jessica Reid 2-7 8-9 12; Victoria Ault 5-15 0-1 11; Danielle Barber 2-9 0-0 6; Jen Mateo 2-5 2-2 6; Dana Coronato 2-4 0-0 4; Britta Olsen 1-1 1-1 3; Whitney Mackay 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-48 18-21 55.
The University of Scranton.... 33 33 - 66
Drew.......................... 17 38 - 55
3-point goals--The University of Scranton 5-18 (Jennifer King 3-9; Katie Cunningham 2-4; Megan Kopecki 0-1; Alison Sweeney 0-2; Colleen McLane 0-2), Drew 3-16 (Danielle Barber 2-5; Victoria Ault 1-6; Jen Mateo 0-2; Dana Coronato 0-2; Whitney Mackay 0-1). Fouled out--The University of Scranton-None, Drew-Jessica Reid. Rebounds--The University of Scranton 38 (Megan Kopecki 6), Drew 36 (Jessica Reid 8). Assists--The University of Scranton 10 (Alison Sweeney 2; KC Hawkes 2; Katie Cunningham 2), Drew 10 (Jen Mateo 4). Total fouls--The University of Scranton 17, Drew 17. Technical fouls--The University of Scranton-None, Drew-None. A-239