Jackie Malley's 24 points was a team-high, as the St. Lawrence University women's basketball team earned a 61-45 Liberty League victory over Bard on Friday evening, as they took a large lead in the opening quarter and held off the Raptors.

The win improved the Saints' record to 8-3, winning their third straight conference game. 

Bard opened the game with a field goal to take an early lead, but from there the Saints tacked on 14 straight points to open up a large lead. Malley led the run for the Scarlet and Brown with two three-pointers, but the Saints also received points from Hannah Van Dyke, Mason Baker-Schlendering, Norah Niesz, and Margaret Dougher. They led 14-4 after the first.

While St. Lawrence entered the second with a 12-point lead, the Raptors quickly halved it with back-to-back three pointers from Shirley Dong. Bard and St. Lawrence then traded points for the remainder of the half and a big three-ball by Annie Perry kept the Saints up by 10 at the break, leading 31-21.

The Raptors continued to chip away and got the lead down to three in the third, but St. Lawrence used a long run and outscored Bard by 13 from there to the end of the game to take away the victory.

Malley's 24 points were a season high for the senior guard. She went 6-17 from beyond the arc. Mason Baker-Schlendering was the team leader in rebounds, posting 10. Izzy Caron also added three steals for the Saints in the contest. 

St. Lawrence returns to action Saturday, as they travel to Vassar for an afternoon contest in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.