Langhorne, PA - A suffocating defense from the Marywood Pacers gave Cairn University fits all night in a Colonial States Athletic battle.

Box Score

The Highlanders held a 3-2 advantage for two and a half minutes early in the game before a Pacers layup at the 16:49 mark gave them the lead 4-3. At which point, Marywood never looked back. Marywood opened up a 19-3 lead after going on a 17-0 run over the next five mintes. What was most impressive, however, was the effectiveness at which the Pacers protected their own basket. The Pacers came into this game with the 2nd best scoring defense in the league, allowing only 54.3 points per game, while limiting their opponents to 33% shooting. That defense was intensified tonight with a Pacer defender contesting every Cairn shot and contributing heavily to the Highlanders shooting a suicidal 15% in the opening half.

Marywood closed out the final ten minutes of the first half with a 19-6 run to take an insurmountable 38-9 lead into the break.

The open looks never came for Cairn in the second half either, as they continued to struggle from the floor, shooting 20% in the second half. Hannah McCardle, Cairn's leading scorer, had come in to tonight's game averaging 16.8 points/game and coming off of back-to-back 20 points nights, was held to two baskets, one being a 3-pointer. Junior guard Haley Weber led the Highlanders tonight with 10 points, as Marywood ran away with it 68-25.

Twelve different Pacers played 13 minutes or more and scored at least 2 points, while Lindsey Schroth had a game-high 12 points. Marywood dominated the low-post, out-rebounding the Highlanders 42-25, although Cairn's Ruth Nelson had a game-high 10 rebounds.

Cairn falls to 0-9 on the season and 0-4 in the conference. Marywood improves to 6-4 overall and remains undefeated at 3-0 in the CSAC.

Next up for the Highlanders is a non-conference match up with Penn St.-Hazelton. The game is set for a 7pm start in Hazelton, PA.