HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Dec. 10, 2015) – The Drew University women's basketball team dropped a non-conference game at Centenary (N.J.) College, 53-49, on Thursday evening.
 
Senior captain Courtney Stephens led the Rangers (5-3) with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and two steals. Junior Sam Lane contributed 14 points, while junior Ryan Jackson was the leading rebounder with 10 and sophomore Michaela Keegan led in ball distribution with seven assists.
 
The Cyclones (4-5) trailed at halftime 26-22 due to the good ball movement and balanced scoring from the Rangers. Seven of Drew's nine field goals through the first two periods were assisted as Stephens, Lane and Jackson led Drew in scoring. However, Centenary came out of the intermission with renewed purpose and outscored the Rangers 20-8 in the third period to give them control of the game.
 
Centenary would lead by as many as 12 with 8:29 left in the game. Drew would put together a few rallies in the fourth period with a 6-0 run and, later, a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 49-47 with 2:34 left on the clock. The Cyclones hit a three-pointer to stop the run and after leading 52-47 with 1:41 left, gave up a couple fouls on Drew shot attempts.
 
The Rangers couldn't make them pay for the late-game fouls, shooting 2-of-4 from the line down the stretch. The Cyclones held on to the slim lead over the final minute to claim victory on their home court.
 
Centenary outrebounded Drew, 44-34, while also winning the battle in the paint, 32-20. Neither team shot exceptionally well from the field, but Centenary had the edge with a 39-percent mark compared to Drew's 33-percent. Drew shot just 2-of-18 from beyond the arc, but Centenary gave most of the misses back with a 2-of-14 mark of its own.
 
Drew will get a full week off from competition before returning to the hardwood against Alvernia University in Baldwin Gymnasium on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 5:00 p.m.