SCRANTON, Pa. - Junior forward Makenzie Mason (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) poured in a career-high 24 points, as the University of Scranton women's basketball team made quick work of Wilkes on Saturday in a 69-47 win at Marywood as part of the 2018 Cross County Challenge.
With the win, the eighth-ranked Lady Royals open their 2018-19 season with a 2-0 record. Wilkes, meanwhile, fell to 1-4 with the defeat.
To open play in the contest, Scranton quickly went up double-digits in the first four and a half minutes of regulation, taking a 12-2 lead early. The large lead for the Lady Royals held through the rest of the quarter, as Scranton entered the second up by seven on Wilkes at 19-12.
In the second quarter, Wilkes slashed the Scranton lead down to five points (23-18) early, but the Lady Royals responded, as a 10-2 run gave Scranton their biggest lead of the day at 33-20 with 4:38 left in the first half.
The double-digit lead held for Scranton through the rest of the quarter, as the Lady Royals held a 36-23 lead on Wilkes entering intermission.
It was more of the same in the third quarter, where Scranton eventually extended their lead out to 18 points (46-28) halfway through the period. Up 50-34 entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Royals coasted down the stretch, on their way to a 22-point win over Wilkes.
Overall in the contest, Mason did a little bit of everything in her career-best 24-point performance.
In all, she shot 9-of-13 from the floor and made a trio of three-pointers. She also pulled down 10 rebounds to notch a double-double, dished out three assists, had two blocks, and two steals. For her efforts, Mason was named to the Cross County Challenge All-Tournament team, as well.
Elsewhere, senior guard Bridgette Mann (Canadensis, Pa./Wallenpaupack) and junior guard Emily Sheehan (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) each chipped in with eight points, apiece. Mann pulled down eight rebounds and had three assists, while Sheehan dished out four assists in the win.
Rounding out the top performers on the day for Scranton was freshman forward Hannah Kowalski (Clarks Summit, Pa,/Abington Heights), who came off the bench to score eight points, while also dishing out four assists.
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, the Lady Royals posted another strong effort, as they held Wilkes to just 26.2 percent shooting from the floor.
The University of Scranton women's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday at a familiar place - Marywood - where the Lady Royals will take on the host Pacers. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
--LADY ROYALS--