HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -- Marymount women's basketball came out of the halftime locker room on a mission, using a strong third quarter to pick up the Atlantic East win over the Cyclones of Centenary, who came into the day with an 11-4 record.

Behind double-digit scoring efforts from Samantha Bulik and Kaylah Barr, the Saints move to 1-1 in conference action before coming back to Converse Family Fieldhouse next Wednesday.

NOTABLE

• Senior point guard Bulik dropped 17 on the day, adding six rebounds, four steals, and a pair of assists.
• First-year Barr, continuing to impress throughout her career-opening campaign, had 16 in the win with five rebounds and two assists.
• Ava Achtyl notched a team-high 10 boards, adding six points, going perfect from the field and the charity stripe.
• Ella Morrison had six points and rebounds, also dishing out four assists.
• Kelly Ceroll pulled down seven rebounds and added five points and a steal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first three minutes proved to be a defensive showcase, with both teams having trouble getting on the board. The Saints struck first with a free throw from Barr, after a missed second attempt, Morrison came down with the offensive board and dished it to Bulik, who sank the three to give MU early momentum.
• After Centenary clawed back to take the lead, 8-to-6, Bulik found Cara Vollmer with the open look outside of the arc, sinking it to push the Saints back on top. 
• With just over a minute left in the first quarter, Marymount stared at a three-point deficit. In the final play before time expired, Grace Damato pulled down an offensive board and put it back to put the Saints within one.
• Centenary opened up the second quarter with back-to-back score. The Saints, looking to remain close, marched down the offensive end of the court. Ceroll dished a pass over to Catie Kolwey, who drained the three to cut into the deficit. A layup on the next play from Bulik evened up the score.
• A nine-point run from the Cyclones was immediately followed up by a six-point run from Marymount, capped off by a jumper inside of the arc from Kolwey to keep MU within easy reach.
• Centenary held onto the lead down the final minutes of the first half to take a 34-27 lead into the locker room.
• After an onslaught of scoring from both teams to open up the third quarter, Marymount were down by 11 with 7:36 left.
• A key 12-point run from MU in the final five minutes of the period gave the Saints a four point lead heading into the decisive frame.
• Each jab from Centenary was returned by another from Marymount in the fourth quarter, and with Bulik sinking all six of her rebounds in crunch time, the Saints came out of the action with the much-needed win.

UP NEXT

• Marymount will be back in action at home this upcoming Wednesday, Jan. 15, taking on Gwynedd Mercy in AEC action at 6 PM.
• They will follow it up with another home affair against Marywood on Saturday at 2 PM.