WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic University women's basketball junior Mollie Reynolds scored a career-high 17 points to lead the Cardinals to a 64-40 Landmark Conference victory over Juniata on Franny Murray Court Wednesday. She also added three rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Catholic (9-5, 1-2 Landmark) won for the fifth time in its last six games while picking up its first conference win of the season.

Reynolds scored all of her points in the first half, including nine in the first quarter, outscoring the Eagles by herself as Catholic took a 16-8 lead.

Catholic led from start to finish after jumping out to a 8-0 lead in the game's first four minutes. Reynolds scored the Cards' first two baskets and punctuated their 14-2 sprint out of the gate with a three-pointer. Freshman Ashley Smith, who had nine points, added a trey during the opening outburst.

Reynolds surpassed her previous career-high point total with a short driving layup at the 4:24 mark of the second quarter.

Catholic totaled a season-high 23 steals which led to 25 points off turnovers. It was the team's most steals in a game since the Cardinals also had 23 in a 74-63 victory at Washington College on Dec. 11, 2010. Of Catholic's 15 first-half steals, Reynolds, junior Megan Stafford and senior Sarah O'Neill had three apiece.

Freshman Luca Mamula added 10 points and three steals while Stafford chipped in eight points and a team-high six rebounds. Freshman Mary Kelly had a career-high three blocks for the Cardinals.

Gracie Stauffer, who entered the game averaging a 15.0 points and 12.5 rebounds for Juniata (4-10, 2-1 Landmark), was held to just five points. She did finish with a game-high 11 boards.

Catholic's swarming interior defense held Stauffer to just three shots and forced her into five of her team's 28 turnovers. The trap-heavy defensive effort limited the Eagles to 14 of 55 shooting (26 percent), including 4 of 14 (29 percent) from three-point range.

The Cardinals travel to No. 4 Scranton on Saturday for a 2 p.m., tip-off.