MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University women's basketball team cut a 15-point second-half deficit down to two in the closing minutes, but Catholic University pulled away late and earned a 64-56 victory in a big Landmark Conference matchup Saturday afternoon in Baldwin Gym.
 
Senior guard Joey Meyers led the Rangers (14-3, 4-2 LC) with her sixth double-double of the season, posting 22 points while tying her career-high with 15 rebounds. Senior guard Gwen Alberici added nine points and six assists while classmate Kyra Mann contributed eight points. Junior forward Jamie Struble posted six points and 10 rebounds.  
 
Erin Doherty and Carly Mulvaney paced the Cardinals (13-4, 4-2 LC) with 13 points apiece.
 
Catholic never trailed after outscoring the Rangers 17-4 to start the game and carried a 20-7 lead into the second quarter.
 
Drew pulled to within seven on a 3-pointer from Alberici and a layup from freshman center Brenna Hezel midway through the second period. But Catholic answered with a 10-3 run to push its lead back to 14, and the Cardinals led 35-24 at the half.
 
The visitors led 39-24 early in the third quarter before the Rangers came roaring back, using a 14-2 run to draw to within three with 2:27 on the clock. The surge was fueled by three straight 3-pointers from Alberici, Mann, and senior guard Katrina Wojtowicz. Catholic ended the quarter on a 7-2 spurt, however, and led 48-40 after three quarters of play.
 
The Cardinals still led 55-46 with 5:09 on the clock, but that's when Drew made one final push, using a 7-0 run to pull to within 55-53 with 2:23 left. Meyers scored the first six points of the run on back-to-back old-fashioned 3-point plays.
 
Carly Mulvaney answered with a jumper for Catholic, but freshman Madelyn Morgan converted at the other end for Drew to make it 57-55 with 2:03 to go.
 
Doherty then drained a 3-pointer for Catholic, and after a Ranger missed shot, Rachel Bussanich connected in the paint to push the Cardinals' lead to 62-55. Freshman forward Gianna Pica hit a free throw to make it a six-point game, but Erin Thompson sealed it with two free throws with 13 ticks showing.
 
The Rangers are back in action on Wednesday, when they visit Elizabethtown College at 7 p.m. in another key Landmark Conference affair.