MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Tara Berger recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and Olivia Gorman dropped a game-high 17 points to help lead the Wesleyan University women's basketball team to a 63-57 win over Marywood in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals came out strong, leading 19-9 after the first quarter and holding a 34-22 lead at the break. It was a different story in the second half as the Pacers outscored Wesleyan 18-13 in the third quarter and 17-16 in the fourth, but the home team held on and prevailed to improve to 3-1. With the loss, the Pacers drop to 2-5.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• It was all Wesleyan in the first quarter.
• A layup by Emily Theobald cut the deficit to four with 4:54 on the clock but the Cardinals outscored Marywood 8-2 down the stretch to take a 10-point lead entering the second quarter.
• Ava Tompkins hit one from behind-the-arc at the 6:02 mark of the second to give Wesleyan a 14-point lead, its largest of the game.
• The Pacers got within eight following a layup from Theobald, but Wesleyan used a 6-2 run to close out the half as a free throw by Katy O'Connor with :01 remaining put the home team ahead 34-22.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• Marywood opened the second half with a 6-0 run to get within eight.
• Later in the third quarter, a 3-pointer by Kilie Wyers cut the deficit to five with 5:35 to go.
• After a 3-pointer by Gorman and layup from Chynna Bailey, the home team's lead returned to double-digits as they lead 43-33. However, the Pacers responded and a three from Morgan Shamro cut the deficit to five once again with 1:36 remaining.
• Early in the fourth quarter, a 3-pointer by Tompkins followed by consecutive layups from Bailey increased the Wesleyan lead to 13 with 6:15 left in regulation.
• The Pacers didn't back down and with 35 seconds remaining, a free throw by Shamro cut the deficit to four, 61-57.
• However, Wesleyan held on down the stretch and didn't allow another point.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Berger has now recorded a double-double in all four games this season as she finished with 11 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Gorman scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting while recording three steals, and Bailey finished with eight points, six boards, four blocks, two assists, and one steal. Tompkins had a strong second half for the Cardinals and finished with eight points, six rebounds, a team-high four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
• Natasha Hessling led Marywood with an impressive double-double as she scored 16 points and pulled in a game-high 20 rebounds. Theobald and Shamro each scored twice and Aryah Aungst led all players with five assists.
• Both teams scored 38 points in the paint but Wesleyan held a 12-0 advantage in fastbreak points.

UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals are back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 5 and will host Endicott in non-conference action beginning at 7 p.m.