WASHINGTON, Pa. – Freshman Lauren Gilbert (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) poured in 27 points in her first collegiate game to help the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team to a season-opening 82-48 nonconference win over Hiram on Friday night, Nov. 17, on the first day of the SpringHill Suites Tip-off Tournament.
 
Both teams were tied at 10-10 just over four minutes into the game when they Presidents turned up the offense, going on an 11-2 run to give themselves an early eight-point cushion. Hiram cut the lead down to six points before the W&J went on another run, this one a 20-6 margin spanning from the second to third quarter, including an 11-0 streak.
 
The Presidents outscored the Terriers 39-23 in the first half and continued to run their offense while playing strong defense throughout the second half, scoring 43 points to just 25 for the Terriers.
 
Gilbert's 27 points came in 27 minutes of action as she shot 10-of-13 from the field, including 3-for-6 from long range, and hit all four free throw attempts. 12 of Gilbert's 27 points came in the third quarter, as did two of her three-pointers.
 
Amirah Moore (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) and Nicole Ricketts (Montgomery Village, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) both scored nine points in the win with Moore contributing a trio of rebounds and assists. Ricketts' nine points came on three triples in a 2:48 span in the third quarter, adding to her two steals in the game.
 
Alie Seto (Allison, Pa./Brownsville) also had a strong first collegiate performance, posting eight points and eight boards in 21 mins.
 
The Presidents converted 18 Hiram turnovers into 24 points in the contest and outscored the Terriers in fastbreak points (10-6) and bench points (32-17) and led by as many as 39 points in the fourth quarter.
 
W&J will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 4:00 p.m. and will take on Mount Union in the Championship Game of the SpringHill Suites Tournament.