HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – In a back-and-forth game, Cairn University outscored the Centenary University women's basketball team by six in the second half for a 61-56 victory in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play on Saturday afternoon. The two teams battled through seven ties and 10 lead changes in the contest.

Junior Katie Alvarez posted a double-double to lead the Cyclones, who led at halftime for the first time this season.

An 11-5 run by the Highlanders to end the first quarter gave the visitors a 15-9 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Cairn pushed its lead to eight as Aigner Bookard opened the second quarter scoring with a jumper at 9:49.

Six straight points pulled the Cyclones to within two, 17-15 with 8:08 to go in the stanza.

Cairn pushed its lead back to four, 19-15 on a jumper from Charlotte Camp at the 6:03 mark.

Centenary closed the quarter on a 13-8 run and took a 28-27 lead at the half. Freshman Jessica McKenzie and sophomore Danika Brandt each dropped in four points during that stretch while freshman Meghan Barone hit a three-pointer for her first collegiate points.

The two teams traded baskets to open the third quarter as freshman Taylor Bossert gave the Cyclones a 32-31 advantage with 8:11 showing on the clock.

The two teams continued to battle on each end of the court as a three-pointer from Bossert and a jumper from freshman Victoria Jacobs gave the Cyclones a 41-38 advantage with 4:39 to go in the period.

Cairn scored seven of the final eight points in the third quarter and took a 45-42 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Alvarez opened the fourth quarter scoring with a lay-up and cut the Cairn lead to one, 45-44 with 9:47 to play.

Cairn scored eight of the next nine points and led 53-45 with 5:49 to go in the game.

Three-pointers from Brandt and Jacobs pulled the Cyclones to within four, 55-51 with 2:57 remaining in the stanza.

Cairn pushed its lead back to eight before Jacobs drained a triple with 11 seconds to play, which made the final score 61-56 in favor of the visitors.

Cairn shot 36.2 percent from the field in the contest and made 17-of-25 chances from the foul line. Centenary posted a 38.6 field goal percentage while making six three-pointers and going 6-for-10 from the charity stripe. The Cyclones held a 43-35 advantage in the rebounding battle.

Alvarez posted 15 points and pulled down a season-high 19 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. Alvarez's 19 boards are tied for the most by a CSAC player this season. Brandt added 14 points and six assists for the Cyclones while McKenzie finished with six points and nine rebounds.

Dakota Hitchner and Kendra Strum each had a game-high 18 points for the Highlanders.

The Cyclones are back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 5 as they travel to Bryn Athyn for a 7 p.m. game.