Staudinger scores career-high 20 points in Rock's 65-56 loss to Assumption

KellyAnn Staudinger was the only Rock player to finish the game with a double-digit scoring total

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Senior post player KellyAnn Staudinger scored a game- and career-high 20 points and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds Saturday afternoon in a losing cause as The Rock dropped a 65-56 decision to Assumption in second-day action of the Surf N Slam San Diego Hoops Classic at San Diego City College.

Sophomore post player Haley Gaidosh had eight points and five rebounds and junior guard Amanda Nero chipped in seven points and four assists for SRU (4-7), which sustained its fourth straight loss.

Assumption, which received votes in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II national poll, improved its season record to 10-3.

Rock sophomore guard Nikki Presto scored the first four points of the game and The Rock never trailed in the first 15-plus minutes, although the score was tied on four occasions during that span.

SRU held a nine-point, 17-8, lead with 10:20 left in the first half, only to see Assumption score nine unanswered points and 13 of the next 15 points to take its first lead of the game, 21-19, with 4:11 left in the opening stanza.

A 3-point jumper by sophomore guard Julie Molloy put SRU on top by a 22-21 lead and a layup by sophomore guard Sandra Busser tied the score at 24-24 before Assumption took the lead for good.

Assumption outscored SRU by a 9-4 margin the final three minutes to take a 33-28 lead into intermission, then went on a 23-11 run in the first 11 minutes of the second half to take a 56-39 lead with 8:30 left to play.

The Rock did not get the deficit back to single digits until Nero nailed a 3-point jumper with 0:36 left to account for the final points of the game.

SRU outrebounded Assumption by a 35-29 margin, but turned the ball over 26 times.

The Rock shot 48% (12 of 25) from the field in the first half and 39.3% (11 of 28) in the final 20 minutes to finish with a 43.4% efficiency. The Green and White hit 3 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc and 63.6% (7 of 11) free throws.

SRU returns to action Jan. 3, when it will travel to Gannon for a non-conference game.

The Rock then hosts Cheyney in a 3 p.m. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference "crossover" game Jan. 6 in Morrow Field House.

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