ERIE, Pa.- The Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team (1-0) was victorious by a final score of 78-66 in their season opener against Penn State Behrend (1-1) on Monday night.
The Presidents used a strong fourth quarter performance, pouring in 30 points during the period, to secure the victory. W&J also benefited from a strong three-point shooting effort, during the contest, making 10-of-21 attempts (47.6%) from beyond the arc.
Five different players scored in double-figures for W&J, with both
Riley DeRubbo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and
Marina Grado (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) turning in career-best efforts. DeRubbo led the way for the Red & Black, amassing 24 points, the most in a single game during her career as a President. The graduate student made 7-of-15 shots (46.7%) from the field, 3-of-6 tries (50.0%) from three-point range and grabbed seven rebounds in the victory. Grado also posted a career-high in points with 14, adding four rebounds and three assists to her stat line.
W&J gained its largest lead of the first quarter by-way of a Grado three-pointer that put the Presidents up, 12-6. Behrend cut the lead back to one at the 2:19 mark, but 35 seconds later DeRubbo cashed in from beyond the arc, to give the Presidents a four-point cushion at the quarter's end. Nine of W&J's 16 first quarter points came via a converted three-point field goal.
In the first four minutes of play of second quarter action, the Presidents maintained their lead. At the 6:04 mark, Behrend sank a jumper to take a 21-20 lead, giving the Lions their first advantage since the opening minute of the game. W&J responded and retook the lead with yet another three-point make, this time from
Jacey Mullen (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield Local). The Presidents knocked down two more three-pointers in the second quarter, both courtesy of
Raegan Kadlecik (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour). A last-second layup by the Lions sent the game to halftime with the Presidents leading, 31-30.
With 5:34 left to play in the third quarter, the contest remained close in score but still in favor of the Red & Black, 39-38. Over the course of the next four minutes of action, the Presidents used a 9-2 run to take a 48-40 advantage. Kadlecik hit her third triple of the night during that run. The Lions responded with a run of their own, and the Presidents led by only two tallies at the end of the third period, 48-46.
Grado and DeRubbo wasted no time getting back to work in the fourth quarter. The duo combined for two more three-point baskets on back-to-back possessions to start the frame. W&J stayed hot offensively throughout the quarter, posting a strong 30-point effort in the final period to put the game out of reach.
In addition to excellent three-point shooting, the Presidents were also sharp from the free-throw line making 20 of their 24 attempts (83.3%). W&J won the turnover margin (19-15) and the rebound margin (42-40) over the Lions.
Women's Basketball takes the floor again on Friday (Nov. 14) for their home opener, and Day one of the Hampton Inn by Hilton Women's Basketball Tipoff. W&J will take on Ohio Northern, with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m.
