Aston, PA - Keystone College outscored host Neumann University 59-57 over the final three periods of Tuesday evening's Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball opener, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 35-8 lead that the Knights built in the first 10 minutes of the game. Neumann, who had five players reach double figures, improves to 2-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference play while the Giants, who got a game-high 18 points from Nina Hodanich (Scranton, PA/West Scranton), falls to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Leading by three points early in Tuesday night's matchup, Neumann scored 25 straight points before holding a 35-8 advantage after the first 10 minute period. Keystone battled back into the game with a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter to narrow their deficit to 39-25 on a Destinee Hall (Spring Valley, NY/Paramus Catholic) layup with a 4:26 remaining in the first half. The Knights countered with 10 straight points of their own and would hold a 54-29 advantage at the halftime break.

AAliya Hayes (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) led all players with 14 points for Neumann while Nafisa Saunders netted 10 points in the first half. JoHanna Metzger grabbed nine rebounds for the Knights, who shot 48.8 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Bryce Garrett (Philadelphia, PA/John Bartram) and Maddy Moro (Danville, PA/Danville Area) paced the Giants with seven points apiece in the first half while Hodanich chipped in with six points. Samantha Donahue (Taylor, PA/Riverside) was Keystone's leading rebounder over the first two periods by corralling four boards for the visitors, who connected on 43.5 percent of their attempts from the floor.

Keystone used an early, 6-0 spurt in the third quarter to draw to within 21 points, 56-35, on a Hodanich lay-in, but Neumann answered with a three-pointer to start an 8-0 run of their own and the hosts extended their lead to 78-51 heading into the final 10 minute frame.

The Giants opened the fourth stanza with a 7-3 run and would go on to outscore the Knights 16-14 in the final period, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the early hole the visitors fell into as Neumann emerged with the 25-point victory.

Saunders led five Knights in double-figures with 16 points while Hayes finished with 15 points. Metzger added a double-doubled on 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, Emily Lyons added 12 points, and Lauren Legler chipped in with 10 points for Neumann, who shot 42.1 percent from the field for the game, 37.5 percent from three-point range, and 73.3 percent from the free throw line.

The hosts also held a 49-37 advantage in rebounding for the night and forced the Giants into 25 turnovers while giving the ball away 18 times themselves.

Hodanich coupled her season-high18 points paired with five rebounds and a team-leading two steals while Garrett finished the night with 15 points. Moro added 10 points and team-best eight boards for the Giants, who shot 41.2 percent from the floor, 20 percent from long range, and 69.7 from the charity stripe in the loss.

Destinee Hall (Spring Valley, NY/Paramus Catholic) had eight points and two assists for Keystone while Donahue and Daynara Elysee (Spring Valley, NY/Ramapo) contributed six points apiece with Elysee adding seven rebounds on the night.

Keystone returns to the hardwood next Wednesday, December 2, as they host local rival Marywood University in a rematch of last year's first round Colonial States Athletic Conference playoff game won by the Giants. Opening tipoff against the Pacers is set for 6:00 p.m. in the Gambal Athletic Center.