SCRANTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's basketball team held off Marywood University 69-62 on Wednesday evening in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) matchup.
 
Nafisa Saunders led all scorers with 37 points, hitting 14 baskets and going 9-for-10 from the line. The junior also grabbed 10 rebounds. Lauren Legler added 17 points, including three shots from downtown.
 
The first half remained close with each team taking a few runs. The biggest lead in the first quarter was four points for the Knights, 7-3, on a three-pointer by Legler. Legler connected on two free throws at the end of the first 10 minutes for a 12-11 lead.
 
In the second quarter, Neumann took a 16-all game and built and eight point advantage, 24-16, over the next four minutes. Marywood finished the quarter on a 9-2 to get to within one point, 26-25, heading into halftime.
 
The Knights opened the second half on a 13-2 run to take a double-digit advantage, 39-27. Neumann would increase its lead to as many as 15, 51-36, during the third quarter. Marywood netted the final two baskets of the half and Neumann took a 51-40 lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
The teams went back and forth to start the fourth quarter and the Knights still held a double-digit lead, 66-56, with two minutes left in regulation. The Pacers scored the next six points to get to within four, 66-62, with 34 seconds on the clock. Shauntel Williams went 3-for-4 from the line in the closing seconds to seal the win and prevent the Pacer comeback attempt.
 
Neumann (15-5, 10-1 CSAC) will return home on Saturday to host Cabrini in a big conference game. The Knights will honor their four seniors before the 1:00 PM tip-off.

**Notes of interest: Saunders 37 points is the second highest scored in a single game behind Celeste Rogers (45 points against Wilmington College 2/11/1989)**