WASHINGTON – Junior guard Olivia Aliotta posted 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds but the Drew University women's basketball team was handed a 66-53 setback by host Catholic University Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the second career double-double for Aliotta, who also dished out a career-best four assists. Her 17 rebounds were the most by a Ranger since Sekya Campbell C'22 snared 19 boards in a 76-71 victory at Catholic on Feb. 5, 2021.
 
Senior forward Gianna Pica added nine points and four rebounds for the Rangers (8-5, 3-3 LC) while junior guard Alice Altomare contributed eight points.
 
Carly Catania led Catholic (9-4, 6-0 LC) with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Cardinals raced out to a 13-2 lead and carried a 19-8 advantage after one quarter of play. The Rangers outscored Catholic 7-2 to start the second period, as an Aliotta 3-pointer and consecutive buckets from Pica cut the deficit to 21-15 with 7:45 on the clock. However, the Cardinals answered with a 10-1 run to push their lead back to 15.
 
The Rangers came back with the next five points, but Catholic scored the last five points of the half to go up 36-21 at the break.
 
Drew narrowed the gap to 11 (40-29) with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the way.  Catholic pushed their lead to 56-36 at the end of the period, but the Rangers refused to go quietly and outscored the Cardinals 17-10 in the fourth quarter, when it held the hosts to 28.6% (4-for-14) shooting.
 
Drew continues its schedule on Wednesday, when it visits Wilkes University in another Landmark Conference affair starting at 7 p.m.