NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 20th-ranked University of Scranton women's basketball team came out of the locker room and was nearly perfect in the third quarter, turning a three-point lead into a double-digit advantage en route to a 67-53 victory over Wheaton (Ill.) on Friday night in the Music City Classic at Volunteer State Community College.

Scranton (10-1) went 10-for-11 from the field, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range, in a 25-point third quarter that turned a 27-24 halftime lead into a 52-41 lead. The Lady Royals then put the game away in the fourth quarter, using a 13-6 run to take a 14-point lead with two minutes left.

Senior guard Katie Broderick (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) powered the big third quarter by going 4-for-4 from 3-point range for 12 of her 14 points on the night. She also finished the night with eight rebounds and an assist in a team-high 35 minutes.

Junior guard Bridgette Mann (Canadensis, Pa./Wallenpaupack) scored a team-high 17 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and a steal. Senior forward Katie Feehery (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) added 12 points, eight rebounds, a block and an assist of the bench. And sophomore forward Makenzie Mason (Downingtown, Pa./Central Bucks West) finished with eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Lady Royals finished the night shooting a season-high 60 percent (30-for-50) from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. They hit just 2 of 5 at the free throw line, but held a 38-29 rebounding edge while committing 13 turnovers.

Scranton was strong on the defensive end, holding Wheaton (6-4) to just 31.1 percent (19-for-61) from the field, including 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) from 3-point range. The Thunder went 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) from the free throw line and committed just seven turnovers. Kelly Lawson led all scorers with 25 points for Wheaton, including six 3-pointers.

The Lady Royals are back in action on Saturday when they take on Keene State at noon.

--ROYALS--