WASHINGTON, DC - Catholic University pulled away in the second half and defeated the Drew University women's basketball team 73-50 in the Landmark Conference (LC) opener for both teams on Saturday.

Junior center Erin Frederick posted 12 points and five rebounds for the Rangers (5-2, 0-1 LC), who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. Freshman guard Joey Meyers added nine points and five rebounds

Luca Mamula scored 20 points to lead Catholic (8-1, 1-0 LC), which received votes in the latest D3hoops.com and WBCA Division III Top-25 polls. Sydney Poindexter contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Rangers trailed 9-8 before the Cardinals closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run to open up an eight-point lead. Catholic extended its lead to 15 midway through the second quarter, but Drew rallied with a 7-0 spurt that included four points from sophomore forward Sekya Campbell. The hosts carried a 33-22 lead into the locker room.

A 3-pointer from junior guard Julia Ramos made it a 41-27 game with 7:25 left in the third quarter, but that's when the Cardinals used a 7-0 to open up their largest lead of the game up to that point. Catholic led 56-38 at the end of the third quarter and maintained at least an 18-point advantage the rest of the way.

The Rangers take seven days off from competition before returning to action on Sunday, Dec. 15, when they host New Jersey City in a non-conference tilt starting at 1 p.m.