WASHINGTON, DC – Catholic University jumped to an early lead and the ninth-ranked Cardinals handed the Rangers a 68-39 loss in Landmark Conference action Saturday afternoon.
 
Senior forward Jamie Struble posted 11 points and eight rebounds for the Rangers (10-13, 8-8 LC), who remain in fifth place in the Landmark Conference standings with two games left in the season. Drew holds a two-game lead over Lycoming College and Moravian University in the standings; the top-six teams qualify for the conference playoffs.
 
 Sophomore guard Maddie Beyer added seven rebounds for Drew while freshman guard Amy Rachilla grabbed six boards.
 
Catholic (22-1, 14-1 LC) never trailed after scoring the first 12 points and led 23-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Cardinals led 23-7, but the Rangers closed the opening period on a 7-0 run, getting a 3-pointer from junior guard Izzy Lalo, a jumper from senior center Gracie Hezel, and another bucket from Lalo with 14 seconds left.
 
The hosts went on to outscore Drew 16-6 in the second quarter to open up a 39-20 halftime advantage. The Rangers nearly played the Cardinals even in the third quarter, however, as Catholic held just a 16-13 advantage in the stanza. A 3-pointer from Beyer made it a 45-30 game with 5:19 left in the third quarter, but that's when the Cardinals used a 10-3 run to end the period. Catholic continued its run into the fourth quarter, scoring the first five points.
 
The Rangers close out the regular season at home this week when they host Elizabethtown College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Susquehanna University on Saturday at 4 p.m.