Senior forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) had a game-high 21 points and 11 different players scored as The University of Scranton women's basketball team handled Merchant Marine Academy, 70-43, on Sunday afternoon in the John Long Center.
The Lady Royals, who are ranked sixth in the D3hoops.com Top 25, took a double-digit lead less than five minutes into the game and never looked back. Sophomore forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) added 10 points and senior guard Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) had nine assists for the second straight game.
Scranton (7-0, 2-0 Landmark) finished the game shooting 45.3 percent (29-for-64) from the field, including 15-for-29 (51.7 percent) in the first half, when they took a 37-18 lead. Mesaris had 10 points in the opening half while junior guards Jaclyn Gantz (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) and Noelle Alicea (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) had six apiece.
The Lady Royals were 6-for-19 (31.6 percent) from 3-point range, including 3-for-7 by Gantz, who finished with nine points. They also made six of 13 free throw attempts and committed just 12 turnovers.
Mesaris, who was 10-for-13 from the field and also had five rebounds, has now led Scranton in scoring in all seven games this season. She entered the game ranked 11th in NCAA Division III in scoring at 21.8 points per game.
Alicea finished with eight points, four assists, two steals, a block and a rebound, and sophomore forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) had four points, six rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in just 19 minutes.
Scranton dominated the battle on the boards, 45-34, while outscoring the Mariners, 36-20, in the paint. The Lady Royals also had 17 points off 17 turnovers by Merchant Marine.
Senior guard Demi VanDerWal (Springfield, Ill./Springfield) led Merchant Marine (2-6, 0-4 Landmark) with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals. The Mariners shot 32.8 percent (19-for-58), including 4-for-16 from 3-point range.
Scranton returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 17, when it hosts Eastern University at 5 p.m. in the Poinsettia Classic in the John Long Center. Cabrini takes on Richard Stockton in the opening game at 3 p.m.
--LADY ROYALS--