WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Taylor Cortazzo hit a three-pointer with 41 seconds left to give W&J a 79-78 lead in an 81-80 win over Ohio Wesleyan in non-conference action at the Henry Memorial Center.

Cortazzo recorded a steal with 46 seconds remaining before knocking down a wide-open three from the wing following a pass from Amirah Moore to give the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team just its second lead of the second half.

Danni Medovich sank a pair of free throws with 16.7 seconds remaining to extend the lead to three points, 81-78, and the Presidents' defense did not allow a three-point attempt from the Battling Bishops, yielding just a layup just before time ran out to make the final 81-80.

With W&J trailing, 38-32, at halftime, the Presidents used a 7-1 run to open the second half to tie the game, 39-39, with 18:28 remaining on a pair of buckets by Beka Bellhy and a three by Cortazzo. It marked the first of six ties in the second half.

Cortazzo knotted the game at 46-46 with 16:19 to play on another three-pointer, but OWU responded with a 9-2 run that spanned under five minutes to open up a 55-48 lead. Bellhy (four points) and Cortazzo (two points) went on a 6-0 run to bring W&J within one point with just over 13 minutes to play.

Bellhy sent W&J to its first lead of the half with a layup at 8:01, 66-65. A 4-0 run within 39 seconds on baskets by Bellhy and Valerie Dunlap tied the game, 74-74, and following an OWU layup, Bellhy tied the game once again, this time at 76-76.

Two free throws by the Battling Bishops with 2:48 on the clock stood up as the lead until Cortazzo knocked down her three-pointer with 41 seconds to seal the game.

Cortazzo posted a career-best 21 points thanks to a four-of-eight showing from three-point range. Despite playing just four minutes and scoring four points in the first half due to foul trouble, Bellhy ended with 26 points thanks to 22 in the second half. She finished 11-of-15 from the floor with three rebounds and three assists. Moore led W&J with nine rebounds and six points and five assists off the bench.

In total, OWU (4-5) led for 29:05, while the Presidents held the lead for just 3:37 and the score was tied for 7:05.

W&J (7-1) will compete in the Otterbein Tournament Dec. 27-28 with an opening game against Lourdes (Ohio) on Saturday at 5 p.m. before playing Hiram on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Terriers are coached by W&J alumnae and former women's basketball player and assistant coach Emily Hays.