SCRANTON, Pa. - The Catholic women's basketball team faced off against #2 Scranton on Saturday afternoon to battle for the top spot in the Landmark. The Cardinals fought hard against the Royals, but ultimately fell in the meeting, 71-41.

The match started off with a battle, but Scranton managed to take the lead, capitalizing on steals. The Cardinals trailed 7-14 at the end of the first.

Winning the rebounds was crucial in competing with the Royals, and Alexa Kenah proved her dominance in that category, leading the team with five rebounds in the first half. Lauren Kraft had a standout half, going 75% from the field, picking up seven points and three rebounds. Anna Scoblick tallied an impressive five assists and notched a block in the first half of play. 

It was an evenly matched second quarter, with both teams going 50% from the field and each picking up 15 points. The Cardinals trailed by only seven heading into the halftime break, 29-22.

Both defenses came back strong out of the gate, holding each other off for nearly two minutes into the half. Once Scranton knocked one down, the Cardinals responded right back. The Royals managed to find their flow in quarter three, scoring 21 points. They maintained a stonewall defense, holding the Cardinals to single digits.

Catholic attempted to narrow the gap in the fourth quarter, knocking down 15 points. But Scranton held onto the lead, defeating the Cardinals 71-41.

Kraft finished the game in the double figures, totaling 13 points, six rebounds and a block. Kenah picked up another rebound in the second half to bring her total to six, while Scoblick notched five of her own. McKenna Karlson and Juliana O'Dowd added four points apiece in the game. 

Up next, the Cardinals will return home for another Landmark Conference match up on Wednesday, January 21. Catholic will take on Elizabethtown at 7 p.m. at Franny Murray Court.