SCRANTON, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2016)- Junior Rachel Edwards (Phillipsburg, N.J. / Phillipsburg) finished with 14 points, including knocking down three triples as the Centenary University women's basketball team survived their Colonial States Athletic Conference opener with a 66-63 victory over Marywood University on Wednesday evening.

Senior Mallory George (Berkeley Heights, N.J. / Governor Livingston) and junior Julia Presant (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East) both finished with 12 points for the Cyclones who improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the CSAC. Gab Giorando finished with 15 points and six rebounds for the Pacers who fall to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the CSAC.

The Cyclones had the lead for most of the first half, as George and Presant combined for 16 of Centenary's 23 points. Presant came in off the bench and scored seven points in just 13 minutes. Presant's triple with 2:42 remaining in the second quarter gave the Cyclones their largest lead of the game at 29-20. Marywood would score the final three points of the half as Centenary maintained a 29-23 halftime advantage. George led all scorers with nine points and six rebounds.

In the second half, Edwards and fellow classmate Nicole Cartaino (Midland Park, N.J. / Midland Park) combined for 19 points as the Cyclones increased their lead to 53-42 with 9:02 left in the fourth. Marywood stormed back behind 12 fourth quarter points from Erika Thomas, which cut the lead to just three at 66-63 with nine seconds remaining. The Pacers failed to complete the comeback as they missed three shots in the final nine seconds.

George added nine rebounds and four assists, while senior Melissa Rabe (Byram, N.J. / Lenape Valley) totaled seven points and seven rebounds. Cartaino finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while junior Amber Reisenwitz (Cresco, Pa. / Pocono Mountain East) added four steals.

Head Coach Rose Haller and the Cyclones will return to action in Immaculata, Pa. on Saturday, Dec. 3^rd against the Mighty Macs of Immaculata University at 1:00 p.m.