The University of Scranton women's basketball team used a big run to start the second half and another strong game from sophomore forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) to post a 74-51 victory over Susquehanna University on Saturday afternoon in the Long Center.

Mesaris scored 30 points, her fourth straight game of 20 or more, junior guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) added 15 points, six assists and five rebounds, and freshman guard Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) had a career-high 11 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.

The victory improves Scranton to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in Landmark play. It also marks the first time the Lady Royals have opened a season with six straight wins since the 2003-04 season, a span of nine years.

The Lady Royals jumped ahead early and held a 34-23 advantage at halftime behind 15 points from Mesaris and a pair of 3-pointers each from Sweeney and senior guard Christina Hiltunen (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney). Scranton then came out of the locker room with a 20-2 run to extend the lead to 29 as Mesaris scored 10 points during the spurt.

Scranton shot 41 percent (25-for-61) from the field for the game, including 10-for-25 from 3-point range. Sweeney and Alicea each canned three treys while Mesaris and Hiltunen had two each. The Lady Royals also held a 39-29 rebounding advantage as Mesaris pulled down a team-high seven while senior forward Erin Boggan (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) added six.

Mesaris is averaging 27.3 points per game over her past three games. Saturday's 30-point effort marked the second time she's reached 30 points this season after scoring 33 in a win at Marywood on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

The Lady Royals are now 33-1 all-time against Susquehanna.

Susquehanna (1-5, 0-1 Landmark) was led by 12 points from sophomore guard Jonaida Williams (Williamsports, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.). The Crusaders shot 37.5 percent (18-for-48) from the field and committed 21 turnovers while forcing only 14 by Scranton.

Prior to the game, State Representative Sid Michaels Kavulich honored Lady Royals head coach Mike Strong after the State House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring Dec. 1-7, 2012 as Mike Strong Week in Pennsylvania, honoring the coach for becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division III women's basketball last season.

Scranton returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 5, when it hosts Wilkes University at 7 p.m. in the Long Center. 

--ROYALS--