ASTON, PA – The Rowan University women's basketball team captured the Neumann University Tip-Off Tournament title with an 85-63 victory over the host Knights on Saturday.
 
The Profs stay unbeaten on the young season with a 3-0 record. Neumann suffered its first loss of the campaign and is 2-1. Rowan guard Anyssa Sanchez (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Sterling) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and guard Summer Crilley (jr. Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit) joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
 
Sanchez led the Profs with 25 points, six steals and four rebounds. Her steal total matched her career-high. Center April Szymczyk (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) registered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Crilley added 11 points while guard Valerie Garofalo (sr. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) contributed with 10 points and six assists. Guard Alexis Kriley (fr. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) chipped in with eight points and six boards.
 
For Neumann, guard Nafisa Saunders (so. Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) recorded 21 points and seven rebounds. Guard Lauren Legler (jr. Stone Harbor, NJ/Middle Twp.) produced 11 points while guard AAliya Hayes (sr. New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) totaled nine points and 12 boards. Forward/center Mariah Maciejewski (so. Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) corralled eight rebounds.
 
The Knights had an early 4-0 lead before Rowan embarked on a 13-0 run to go ahead by nine (5:04). Six different players scored in the stretch. Neumann closed the gap to three (21-18) with 6:36 to play in the second. The Profs then finished the half with a 21-8 surge, including 10 straight at one point, to take a 42-26 advantage into the locker room. Sanchez led the run with 10 points.
 
Rowan increased its lead to 17 (50-33) in the third quarter before the Knights went on a 9-2 run to trim the deficit to 10 with 2:39 on the clock. However, the Profs followed with eight consecutive points, six by Sanchez, for an 18-point cushion. Neumann could only get within 13 (64-51) for the rest of the contest. Rowan had another 10-0 spurt in the fourth for its largest lead at 27 (83-56) with 2:01 left. Szymczyk had six of the points.
 
The Profs open New Jersey Athletic Conference play at Stockton University on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.