GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Freshman forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) had 26 points and 13 rebounds, and junior forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) added 21 points and 10 rebounds as The University of Scranton women's basketball team rolled to a 79-49 victory over Washington College (Md.) in the consolation game of the Gwynedd-Mercy Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday.

Senior guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) and sophomore guard Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) each added 10 points as the Lady Royals (1-1) overcame a season-opening loss on Friday night. 

Payonk's double-double was her second in less than 24 hours after she had 18 points and 18 rebounds in an 86-75 loss to fourth-ranked Montclair State on Friday night.

The Lady Royals jumped out to a 42-25 halftime lead over Washington (0-2) by making 18 of 20 free throws (90 percent). They then put the game out of reach by holding Washington to 33.3 percent (7-for-21) from the field in the second half. 

For the game, Scranton shot 32.9 percent (25-for-76) from the field while making 25 of 34 (73.5 percent) from the free throw line. The Lady Royals were 4-for-24 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range.

Scranton turned the ball over just seven times while forcing 26 miscues by Washington. The Lady Royals also won the rebounding battle, 45-44. 

Alicea added four rebounds, four assists and five steals, while junior guard Lia DiSciascio (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) had six rebounds to go along with three points in 19 minutes off the bench.

Junior guard Emily Hubley (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) led Washington with 20 points. 

Scranton returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 23, when it plays King's College at 1 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

--ROYALS--