GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The University of Scranton women's basketball team had quite a challenge to open the season, facing fourth-ranked Montclair State in the Gwynedd-Mercy Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.

In the end, a quick start by the Red Hawks proved to be too much for the Lady Royals to overcome in an 86-75 loss at Griffin Complex.

Freshman forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) had quite a debut for Scranton, scoring 18 points and pulling down 18 rebounds in her first collegiate game. Junior forward added Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) had 18 points and five rebounds.

The Lady Royals will face Washington College (Md.) in the consolation game on Saturday at noon at Griffin Complex. Washington lost to Gwynedd-Mercy, 76-60, in Friday's other opening-round game.

Montclair State, which is ranked fourth in the USA Today/WBCA poll, raced out to a 23-9 lead in the first 6:22. The Red Hawks pushed the lead to 16 by halftime, 49-33, thanks to 60 percent from the field (18-for-30), including 5-for-10 from 3-point range.

Payonk had eight points and six rebounds, and senior guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) added seven points to keep the Lady Royals within striking distance at the half.

Montclair State pushed the lead to 67-47 with a little more than 10 minutes to play before Scranton made a late push. The Lady Royals got within eight twice in the final four minutes, but could get no closer.

Payonk's 18 rebounds are tied for 17th most in a single game in Scranton history, and are the most by a Lady Royal since AnneMarie Russo had 18 against Delaware Valley on Feb. 9, 2000. Payonk also had four steals, a block and an assist.

Junior guard Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) finished with nine points, five rebounds and four assists for Scranton. Sophomore guard Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) added eight points and two assists off the bench, while Payonk also had four steals, a block and an assist.

Scranton shot 46.3 percent (31-for-67) from the field for the game, but made just three of 13 (23.1 percent) from beyond the arc. Montclair State finished 29-for-61 (47.5 percent) from the field and 10-for-25 (40 percent) from 3-point range.

The Lady Royals won the rebounding battle, 40-31, but turned the ball over 17 times to just 12 miscues for the Red Hawks.

Montclair State also had an eight-point advantage at the free throw line, making 18 of 25 (72 percent) compared to 10 of 15 (66.7 percent) for Scranton.

Junior guard Janitza Aquino (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) led all scorers with 24 points for the Red Hawks, who also received 22 points from senior guard Nicosia Henry (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook).

--LADY ROYALS--