WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic women's basketball team hosted Landmark Conference opponent Scranton on Saturday evening to close out the regular season. The Cardinals were unable to take down the nationally-ranked Royals, falling in the match up 40-78.

McKenna Karlson opened the scoring with a layup to put Catholic on the board first, but Scranton quickly answered with a basket from Jenna Sloan. The Royals began to build their lead as Catholic worked to find their rhythm in the first quarter. The Cardinals put up a strong defensive front, holding Scranton to just 30 percent from the field in the first period. Catholic closed out the quarter down 21-13.

Scranton found their groove in quarter two, forcing Catholic to regroup. Alexa Kenah, Carly Catania, Lauren Kraft, and Raquel Guidetti each contributed a field goal in the second, but the Cardinals went into halftime trailing, 45-21.

Karlson once again opened a quarter with points for Catholic, finishing a driving layup to begin the third. The quarter was evenly matched, with both teams scoring 13 points, but the Royals maintained the lead, heading into the final quarter up 58-34.

Scranton's defense remained strong in the fourth quarter, holding Catholic to just six points to secure the victory, 40-78.

Karlson led the Cardinals with eight points, while Guidetti and Catania followed with six points apiece.

Defensively, Anna Scoblick and Brooke Kroptavich each recorded five rebounds. Scoblick and Kenah also added key blocks in efforts to slow the Royals. 

Catholic concludes the regular season with an overall record of 17-8, and a record of 14-4 in Landmark Conference play.

Up next, the Cardinals will participate in the Landmark Conference Tournament which begins on Tuesday, Feb. 24