MARIETTA, Ohio -- Washington & Jefferson saw the best start in women's basketball program history come to a close with an 86-71 loss in nonconference action at No. 21 Marietta.
 
The loss snaps W&J's 8-0 start to the season and drops the Presidents to 8-1 entering the holiday break period. Marietta is off to the best start in its' program history, improving to 9-0 on the season.
 
A pair of big runs hurt the Presidents, who were outscored 17-5 during a seven-plus minute stretch in the second quarter, and 14-2 to open up the fourth period.
 
Three W&J players reached double figures, led by Danielle Parker's (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) game-high 17 points. She also added eight rebounds on the day. Amirah Moore (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) scored 15 points, and pulled down four rebounds and handed out four assists. Mya Gordon (Washington, Pa./Washington) added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, with four rebounds. Maria Lawhorne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) contributed nine points on 4-of-6 from the field off the bench.
 
On the afternoon, the Presidents shot 50.9 percent from the field (27-of-53), but made just 20 percent (3-of-15) from three-point range. The home team held a 41-27 advantage in rebounds and converted 19 turnovers into 28 points.
 
The Presidents will be back in action on Fri.-Sat., Dec. 29-30, when they travel for the Music City Classic at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tenn. W&J will open up play against Millsaps (Miss.) on Friday at 6 p.m. EST (5 p.m. CST) and then will play Notre Dame (Md.) at 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST) on Saturday.