With more than 31 years as the head coach of The University of Scranton women's basketball team, Mike Strong can add a prestigious record to his lengthy list of accomplishments. Strong tied for the NCAA Division III women's basketball all-time wins record on Saturday afternoon when his Lady Royals pulled away for a 69-55 victory over Moravian at the John Long Center.

Strong now has 757 career victories, tying him with long-time St. John Fisher head coach Phil Kahler, who retired following the 2007-2008 season. The Lady Royals will have their first chance to put Strong alone atop the record book when they host Messiah in the Long Center on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.

Scranton (3-3, 1-0 Landmark Conference) was led by sophomore guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose), who had 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Junior forward Erin Boggan (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) added 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and two blocks, and junior forward Taylor Pallotta (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) had nine points, all in the second half, and nine rebounds.

The Lady Royals led at the break, 27-23, then came out of the locker room red-hot, hitting 61.5 percent (16-for-26) in the second half, including three of four from 3-point range. They shot 46.6 percent from the field for the game, helping to overcome 19 turnovers.

Scranton was bolstered by its bench play, receiving 24 points from its reserves, led by eight apiece from senior forward Sarah Gage (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury) and junior guard Christina Hiltunen (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney).

The Lady Royals outrebounded the Greyhounds, 41-37, marking the sixth straight time they held an advantage on the glass this season. Scranton, which is 17-8 all-time against Moravian, also enjoyed a 13-2 advantage in fast-break points.

Moravian (1-4, 0-1 Landmark Conference) was led by 13 points and 15 rebounds from senior forward Alexandra Blair (Hellertown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) and 10 points from junior guard Amanda Kreuder (Byram, N.J./Morris Catholic).

Scranton returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 7, when it hosts Messiah at 6 p.m. in the Long Center. The game is the Lady Royals' final home game in 2011, as they'll play on the road six times before returning home to host Goucher on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

--LADY ROYALS--