ASTON, Pa. - The Marymount University women's basketball team continued conference play on Saturday against Neumann University with a 55-44 win, bringing its conference record to 5-0 for the 2021-22 season.

The Saints started out strong with a 6-0 run with two layups by junior Symantha Shackelford and one by freshman Ava Achtyl. Achtyl continued to score for the Saints tallying a total of six points in the first period. Classmate Grace Damato scored a jump shot with 22 seconds to go in the first half bringing the Saints to a 15-12 lead.

The Knights tied the score early in the second period and kept the score close in the opening minutes of the quarter until a layup by sophomore Terra Dzambo marked the start of an 11-point run for the Saints. Five of those points were accounted for by Shackelford, who registered her second 3-pointer of the game and a field goal.

The Saints took a 27-17 lead into halftime, with Shackelford leading the team with 10 points. The Saints held the Knights to just 23.3% shooting in the first half and had a 29-11 advantage on the boards. 

The third period was the Saints' highest-scoring period with sophomore Chandler Eddleton and Shackelford pacing the team with six points each. Neumann kept the lead within 10 for the beginning of the second half, but the Saints began to increase their advantage in the final five minutes. Shackelford drained two threes, sandwiching an Eddleton jumper, to push the lead to 39-23.

Marymount ended the quarter on a 13-7 run, pushing the lead to as many as 19, before taking a 44-29 advantage into the fourth.

The Knights put up a fight in the last quarter, getting back to within eight points of the lead, but that is as close as they would get. Shackelford helped the team close the game out, going four-for-four from the free-throw line in the final minute.

Shackelford led the game in points, three-pointers, and free throws made with 22, four, and six, respectively. Junior Claire Smith led the Saints with three steals and four blocks while Eddleton led the game with 10 rebounds. Eddleton finished with a double-double, with 10 points, as well.

The Saints return to the court in conference play at home on Wednesday, January 26 at 6:00 p.m. against Immaculata University.