MARIETTA, Ohio – Senior guard Stellanie Loutsion (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) poured in a season-high 26 points to help the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team (4-0) down host Marietta College (1-4) by an 81-65 score in Friday night action at the 39th annual Jim Meagle Classic.

All five starters finished in double figures scoring for the Presidents. Junior point guard Marina Grado (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) filled the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Graduate student guard Riley DeRubbo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) recorded a near double-double effort with 13 points and nine rebounds. A pair of juniors, Raegan Kadlecik (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) and Katie Kovalchick (Shelocta, Pa./Indiana Area), finished with 11 points apiece.

The Presidents, who entered the game ranked 25th in the most recent WBCA Coaches Poll, scored the opening eight points of the game. A three-point field goal by DeRubbo stretched the lead into double figures at 18-8 with 2:33 remaining in the first. Marietta closed the quarter with eight of the next 10 points to cut the W&J lead to 20-16 after 10 minutes.

The Pioneers carried that momentum into the second quarter. Marietta used an 11-5 run to take its first lead at 27-25 midway through the frame. Loutsion accounted for the next nine points to help W&J regain the lead. W&J made eight free throws over the final 2:09 to maintain a lead into the halftime break.

W&J methodically added to its lead in the third quarter. A driving layup by Grado boosted the lead to 50-43 at the 5:34 mark. The Red and Black pushed the lead back into double figures before settling for a six-point lead entering the fourth.

The Presidents put together their best shooting quarter of the night in the fourth. W&J converted 7-of-12 field goal attempts and 11-of-14 free throw chances over the final 10 minutes. Eight straight points to open the final quarter helped W&J put a stranglehold on the lead. A three-point lead by Loutsion made it 71-60 with 3:51 left.  

W&J entered the night as one of the top free throws shooting teams in Division III. The Presidents were able to get to the line often in Friday's win. W&J drained 28-of-34 attempts, converting at an 82.4 percent clip.

The Presidents face a quick turnaround as they will face nationally ranked SUNY Cortland on Saturday (Nov. 22) at 1 p.m. to wrap up the weekend at the Jim Meagle Classic hosted by Marietta College.