MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University women's basketball team opened the game on a 10-0 run and never surrendered the lead, defeating Moravian University 65-54 in a Landmark Conference affair Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gym.
 
Senior forward Gianna Pica scored a season-high 18 points for the second game in a row and grabbed six rebounds for the Rangers (10-6, 5-4 LC), who held Moravian to 0-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. Freshman forward Molly Chapman posted 10 points and seven rebounds while junior guard Olivia Aliotta registered 10 points and six rebounds. Senior center Brenna Hezel contributed nine points and seven boards while senior guard Maddie Beyer dished out six assists.
 
Grace Steffen paced the Greyhounds (6-10, 4-5 LC) with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Pica scored four points in Drew's game-opening run posted seven points and four rebounds in the first quarter, helping the Rangers to a 21-12 lead. Moravian edged to within three late in the second quarter, but Drew scored the last three points of the period, including a put-back from Hezel with 14 seconds left that gave the hosts a 33-25 lead at the break.
 
The Greyhounds cut the deficit to one (36-35) with 5:28 showing in the third quarter, but the Rangers answered with consecutive baskets from Chapman to push the lead back to five. Drew closed the quarter on a high note, scoring the last four points on a pair of free throws from junior guard Miabella Diaz and a layup from sophomore guard Jocelyn Kingsley to make it 45-37 heading into the final stanza.
 
Moravian pulled to within six with just under four minutes to go, but that's as close as it would get. The 'Hounds trailed by seven with 2:04 left, but the Rangers knocked down 6-for-8 free throws the rest of the way.
 
Drew continues its season on Saturday, when it hosts Juniata College at 4 p.m. in another Landmark Conference affair on Senior Day.