Sophomore guard Lia DiSciascio (Broomall, Pa./Springfield) scored a career-high 14 points and made three clutch plays in the span of 98 seconds to help The University of Scranton women's basketball team defeat Kean University, 60-49, on Saturday evening in the John Long Center.

Sophomore forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) scored a game-high 17 and senior forward Erin Boggan (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) added 13 as the Lady Royals (8-2) won their second straight.

Scranton led by five at halftime, but scored just two points in the first six minutes of the second half as the Cougars (1-8) pulled even, then eventually took a one-point lead with 12:21 to play when a layup by sophomore guard Shanice Jones (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) capped a 10-4 run.

Kean still led by a point, 38-37, with just under seven minutes to play when DiSciascio drilled a 3-pointer to put the Lady Royals ahead. After a Kean bucket tied the score and Scranton missed a 3 on its next possession, DiSciascio made a diving steal underneath the Cougars' basket and Mesaris hit two free throws on the ensuing possession.

Kean came back yet again with a 3-pointer by sophomore forward Meghan Williams (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township), but it was the Cougars' final lead of the night as DiSciascio canned another 3-pointer to put Scranton ahead for good, 45-43, with 5:02 to play. That 3-pointer was the spark for a game-ending 18-6 run by Scranton that included a fourth trey from DiSciascio.

Scranton also received eight assists, six points, four rebounds and four steals from sophomore guard Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy). The Lady Royals shot 35.5 percent (22-for-62) from the field, including five of 24 (20.8 percent) from 3-point range. Scranton won the rebounding battle, 42-33, and had 14 steals.

Kean was led by 10 points and nine rebounds from sophomore guard AnnaRose Pierre (East Orange, N.J./Newark Tech). The Cougars shot 40.7 percent (22-for-54) from the field, but committed 20 turnovers to just 14 for the Lady Royals.

The Lady Royals are back in action on Monday, Dec. 17, when they host Oneonta State at 4 p.m. in the Long Center. 

--LADY ROYALS--