BAYAMON, Puerto Rico – Frankin & Marshall used a strong defensive effort to turn back The University of Scranton women's basketball team, 65-58, on Wednesday afternoon at the University of Puerto Rico.

Scranton trailed, 31-21, at the break after shooting just 29.2 percent (7-for-24) in the opening half. The Lady Royals were a little better in the second half, shooting 15-for-34 (44.1 percent), but it wasn't enough to overcome the Diplomats, who improved to 7-2 on the season.

The Lady Royals, who dropped to 5-5, were led by 14 points from sophomore guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose), who continued her streak of making at least one 3-pointer in each of the team's 10 games by going 2-for-6 from beyond the arc. Junior guard Katherine Torto (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic Central) added nine points, a team-high nine rebounds and three assists.

Scranton struggled from the free throw line, going just 8-for-19. Franklin & Marshall connected on 13 of its 17 attempts from the charity stripe and also outrebounded Scranton, 41-39.

The Diplomats were led by a game-high 17 points from junior guard Alexa Barbush (Etters, Pa./Trinity). Senior guard Allison Bauer (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) added 11 points and junior guard Colleen Bott (Parsippany, N.J./Villa Walsh Academy) and senior guard Megan Pauley (Audubon, Pa./The Agnes Irwin School) had 10 points each.

Scranton returns to action on Monday, Jan. 2, when the Lady Royals travel to Gettysburg, Pa. for the Days Inn Holiday Tournament against the host Bullets at 6 p.m.

--ROYALS--