PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Freshman post Aleisha Guiler (Lower Salem, Monroe Central) scored 25 points in her Marietta College debut Friday (Nov. 20) night, but host Carnegie Mellon University managed to hold off a young Pioneers squad to earn a 69-61 victory on the first day of the Ohio Athletic Conference/University Athletic Association Challenge. [Box Score]

Guiler's 25-point output was the best freshman scoring performance by a Pioneer since Justine Pagenhardt scored 27 points against Capital in 2005. Guiler finished 8-of-17 from the floor and 9-of-11 from the free throw line while also adding a team-best 7 rebounds in the game.

Senior wing Whitney Swain (Belpre, Warren Local) added 14 points for Marietta (0-1), which shot 18-of-46 (39.1%) from the field, 5-of-12 (41.7%) from beyond the arc and 20-of-29 (69.0%) from the free throw line. In addition, freshman guard Brittany Metcalf (The Woodlands, Texas, John Cooper) had 8 points and junior wing Mallory Hoff (New Metamoras, Frontier) contributed 6 points in the game.

Carnegie Mellon (2-0) finished 20-of-54 (37.0%) from the floor, including 3-of-11 (27.3%) from long range. The Tartans, who out-rebounded the Pioneers 41-36, also hit 26-of-41 (63.4%) from the charity stripe and scored 25 points off 26 Marietta turnovers.

Guiler scored the first 4 points of the game to give Marietta the early lead. Carnegie Mellon answered with a 15-1 run to gain control 15-5 with 12:26 to play in the first half. The Tartans' lead grew to 13 points, 24-11, before the Pioneers used a 14-4 run to cut the deficit to 3 points, 28-25, with 2:02 remaining in the half. Carnegie Mellon, however, closed the half on an 8-0 run of its own to enter the half ahead 36-25.

A 9-2 run to begin the second half helped Marietta close within 4 points, 38-34, with 16:53 to play in the game. The Tartan's advantage then grew to 14 points, 56-42, midway through the half. The young Pioneers fought back to within 4 points, 62-58, as the game entered the final 2 minutes. Carnegie Mellon, however, hit 7-of-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to hold off Marietta 69-61.

Jacki Cortese led Carnegie Mellon with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Hansen and Rachelle Roll both added 8 points in the win.

Marietta closes out the OAC/UAA Challenge on Saturday (Nov. 21) afternoon when the Pioneers take on Case Western Reserve University at 2 p.m. The Spartans defeated John Carroll University 71-54 in the first game Friday night. Live statistics will be available at http://www.enrollment.cmu.edu/athletics/wbasketball/xlive.htm.