BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 16^th, 2016)- Sophomore Nicole Cartaino (Midland Park, N.J. / Midland Park) scored 13 points as the Centenary College women's basketball team extended their winning streak to five with the 63-53 victory over Notre Dame of Maryland on Saturday.

Junior Heather Yaros (Hopatcong, N.J. / Hopatcong) and sophomore Rachel Edwards (Phillipsburg, N.J. / Phillipsburg) finished with 10 points apiece for the Cyclones, who improve to 9-6 overall and 5-2 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Justice Walrath finished with 18 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Gators who fall to 5-10 overall and 1-6 in the CSAC.

The Cyclones opened the game on a 16-4 run, which would set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Notre Dame climbed back into the game with the three ball, as the Gators made three triples in a row to cut Centenary's lead to 27-24 with 2:41 remaining in the second quarter. Centenary would respond by closing the half on a 5-0 run to take a 32-24 lead at the break.  

In the second half, Centenary used the charity stripe to keep Notre Dame from regaining the lead and pushed their advantage to as large as 15 points late in the fourth. The Cyclones shot 18-for-26 from the line, which accounted for 18 of the 30 second half points. Cartaino, Edwards and junior Mallory George (Berkeley Heights, N.J. / Governor Livingston) went a combined 15-for-19 from the line in the game.

George finished with nine points and six rebounds, while junior Melissa Rabe (Byram, N.J. / Lenape Valley) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior Alexis Wilson (Bayonne, N.J. / Marist) finished with six points, five assists and three steals, while senior Angela Randle (East Orange, N.J. / Marist) grabbed five rebounds and recorded two steals.

Head Coach Andrea Kendall and the Cyclones will look to make it six in a row, as they return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 20^th hosting the Knights of Neumann University at 7:00 p.m.