HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Junior Carmen Escano's ninth double-double of the season powered the Centenary University women's basketball team in a hard fought 52-42 loss to Marywood University on Wednesday night in Atlantic East play.
Six straight points from Olivia Ciullo helped Marywood open up a 10-5 lead with 2:48 to go in the first quarter.
Escano and Savannah Purdy each made a basket for their respective team in the final minute of the stanza. Marywood took a 12-7 lead after 10 minutes of action.
Escano connected on a pair of free throws at the 6:49 mark of the second quarter and pulled Centenary to within three, 14-11.
Five straight points from the Pacers extended the Marywood lead to 19-11 with 4:50 remaining until the half.
The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes as Escano's bucket made it a 21-16 game in favor of the visitors.
Freshman Kaylie Elsbree made 1-of-2 from the foul line at 1:28 to cap the second period scoring. Marywood took a 25-17 lead at the half.
Centenary scored five of the first seven points in the third quarter and pulled to within five, 27-22 with 7:04 showing on the clock.
Marywood used an 11-2 run to push its lead to 38-24 with 2:23 remaining in the period. Purdy had five points in that run for the Pacers.
The two teams battled over the final two minutes of the period as the Pacers took a 42-26 lead with 10 minutes to go.
Centenary opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run and cut the Marywood lead to 44-33 with 8:35 to go in the game. Elsbree had five points in that stretch.
Back-to-back buckets from Escano and senior Taylor Bossert pulled the Cyclones to within nine, 47-38 with 6:25 to go in the game.
Escano made 1-of-2 from the foul line at 2:28 and cut the Marywood lead to 50-42.
The Pacers got one final basket and secured the 52-42 win.
Centenary shot 28.1% from the field and connected on 7-of-11 chances from the foul line. Marywood shot 36.1% from the field and made 5-of-7 chances from the charity stripe. The Pacers won the rebounding battle, 45-39.
Escano finished with 19 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals to lead the Cyclones. Bossert added 11 points and three assists while Elsbree had six points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Ciullo led Marywood with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Centenary wraps up a busy week when it visits Immaculata on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m.
