HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – A quick start in the first quarter gave the Centenary University women's basketball team the early lead en route to a 55-48 win over Cedar Crest College in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action on Saturday afternoon. The Cyclones had three players score in double figures while posting their second straight victory.

"I thought the first half was fun and the second half we had to gut it out," said head coach Rose Haller. "We talked about the fact that to be a playoff team we need to be able to gut these types of games out and show that type of fight."

The Cyclones quickly opened up a 10-0 advantage with 4:42 to go in the period as sophomore Taylor Bossert had four points in the early going.

Centenary took a 14-5 lead after 10 minutes of play as sophomore Jessica McKenzie connected on the final basket of the stanza.

The two teams traded baskets to start the second period as a jumper from sophomore Victoria Jacobs gave the home team a 20-8 lead with 7:30 to go until the half.

Freshman Carmen Escano sandwiched a pair of jumpers around a bucket from Cedar Crest as the Cyclones claimed 28-15 lead with 1:36 remaining in the period.

Cedar Crest scored the final points of the stanza as Ashely Wilson connected on a three-pointer at 1:27. However, the Cyclones took a 28-18 lead at the break.

Cedar Crest opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run and cut the Centenary advantage to three, 30-27 with 6:56 to go in the period. Mackenzie Borger had four points for the Falcons during that stretch.

The two sides traded baskets as bucket from McKenzie gave the Cyclones a 35-30 lead with 5:34 showing on the clock.

A pair of baskets from Escano extended the Centenary advantage to 41-33 with 2:08 to go in the stanza.

Jacobs connected on one-of-two from the charity stripe in the final minute as Centenary took a 42-33 with 10 minutes to play.

Centenary scored four of the first six points in the fourth quarter and took a 46-35 lead with 7:02 to play in the game.

Cedar Crest scored the next eight points in the game and cut the Centenary advantage to three, 46-43 with 3:21 to go. Borger scored six of the eight points in that stretch.

Two points each from freshman Janne Rowan and Escano extended the home team's lead to 50-43 with just 2:21 to play.

The two teams continued to battle as the Cyclones went 5-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute of play to secure the 55-48 win. Rowan and Escano each hit two during that stretch.

Centenary shot 50 percent from the field and was 9-for-17 from the foul line. Cedar Crest posted a 29.7 field goal percentage and shot just 9-for-38 from the three-point line. Centenary won the rebounding battle, 43-30.

Bossert and Escano led the Cyclones with 14 points each in the win. Bossert added five rebounds and three steals while Escano had five rebounds. McKenzie posted her second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Wilson led Cedar Crest with 19 points.

The Cyclones will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 7 when they travel to Clarks Summit for a 6 p.m. game.