The University of Scranton women's basketball team took control right from the start and cruised to a 72-43 victory over Drew University on Wednesday evening in the Long Center.

Senior forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) scored a game-high 23 points, including 19 in the first half, as the 14th-ranked Lady Royals (17-2, 9-1 Landmark) remained in first place. Sophomore forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack) had 13 points and eight rebounds, fellow sophomore forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) had 10 points and nine rebounds, and senior guard Lia DiSciascio (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) finished with 10 points.

Scranton was never threatened, opening the game with a 24-6 run over the first 8:49. Mesaris had 11 points in the run and Payonk added six. The spurt led to an eventual 42-18 lead at halftime as Scranton shot 53.3 percent (16-for-30) from the field while holding Drew to just 21.7 percent (5-for-23).

The Lady Royals continued their strong defensive effort in the second half, building the lead as big as 31 on three occasions. Scranton finished the game with a 44-25 rebounding advantage, including seven each for Mesaris and senior guard Lindsay Fluehr (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy), who also had six assists. Fluehr now has 484 career assists, second-most in school history and just 20 shy of the school record set by Kelly Halpin (1996-00).

Junior guard Jaclyn Gantz (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) added eight points off the bench, including a pair of 3-pointers. It's the fifth time this season she has hit two or more 3-pointers in a game and the 13th time in her career.

Scranton finished the game shooting 45.9 percent (28-for-61) and committed just 10 turnovers. The Lady Royals outscored the Rangers, 32-10, in the paint, including 16-0 in the first half, and had a 24-12 edge in bench points.

Drew (10-9, 4-6 Landmark) received 10 points each from senior guard Breana Wilson (Irvington, N.J./Berkshire School) and sophomore guard Hannah Miller (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven). The Rangers finished the game shooting 29.4 percent (15-for-51) and committed 13 turnovers.

Scranton will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 31, when the Lady Royals celebrate Senior Day prior to their 2 p.m. tip-off against Elizabethtown in the John Long Center.

--LADY ROYALS--