ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. - A made free throw with 22 seconds left by sophomore guard Bridgette Mann (Canadensis, Pa./Wallenpaupack) was the difference, as the University of Scranton women's basketball team made a late defensive stop on host Elizabethtown's last possession of regulation to pull out a tough 51-50 win in Landmark Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the third-ranked Lady Royals improved to 13-0 overall and 2-0 in the Landmark Conference. They also extended their regular season winning streak that dates back to 2015 to 47 games, 26 of those victories coming in Landmark Conference action.
Elizabethtown fell to 10-2 overall, 0-2 in the Landmark with the defeat.
It was a defensive slugfest throughout the day, as the Lady Royals opened the first 10 minutes of action with a 13-7 lead over the host Blue Jays. The second period continued to see Scranton hold the lead, eventually extending it out to 11 points (22-11) with just over four minutes left in the opening half.
E-Town was able to slice the Scranton lead down to five just before halftime, as Scranton went into intermission holding a 26-21 lead after the first 20 minutes of action.
But, to start the second half, Elizabethtown quickly got back into the game, as they cut the Lady Royals lead down to two points (28-26) a minute and a half into the period.
Scranton was able to hold onto the lead throughout a defensive friendly third quarter, until a jumper by E-Town's Emily Martin with 22 seconds left tied the game up at 39-39 entering the final period.
In the final quarter, Scranton quickly went up by three after freshman Mackenzie Yori (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton) banked in a three with 8:58 left (44-41), but the Blue Jays were finally able to grab a lead with under five minutes left at 46-45 after a made three.
A lay-in by senior forward Alexix Roman (Hawley, Pa,/Wallenpaupack) quickly gave Scranton the lead back at 47-46, but E-Town fought back with four straight points to go up by three (50-47) with 2:55 left.
From there, Scranton was able to keep Elizabethtown off the scoreboard the rest of the game, as a quick lay-in by senior forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) cut the E-Town lead down to 50-49. After forcing a turnover, Roman then made one of two free throws to tie the game up at 50-50 with 1:45 left.
After grabbing the offensive 'board on Roman's free throw attempt, Scranton could not score, but on Elizabethtown's next possession, the Lady Royals forced a miss that Mann was able to grab off the glass. Mann then went coast-to-coast and was fouled going up for a lay-up with 23 seconds left. She proceeded to make one of two free throws, giving Scranton the one-point lead.
On the last possession of the ballgame, the Scranton defense held strong, as the Blue Jays were only able to take one shot with two seconds left that was missed and grabbed by Payonk off the glass, clinching the win for Scranton in the process.
Overall, Payonk ended the game scoring a team-high 15 points, 10 of which were scored in the second half. She also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in the win, as well.
Roman ended the game with a double-double, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds, and was the only other Lady Royals to score in double-figures in the win. Meanwhile, Mann, Yori and junior Katie Broderick (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) all scored six points, apiece, in the victory, as well.
Elizabethtown was led in the win by Emily Martin, who scored a game-high 18 points.
The University of Scranton women's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Susquehanna at home in another Landmark Conference match-up. Tip-off inside the John Long Center is set for 7 p.m.
--LADY ROYALS--