GROVE CITY, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team (14-5, 9-1 PAC) recorded a decisive 72-50 victory over Grove City (12-7, 6-4 PAC) in Presidents' Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at the College Arena in Mercer County.
Stellanie Loutsion (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) finished with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to register a double-double effort.
Katie Kovalchick (Shelocta, Pa./Indiana Area) finished with a game-high 18 points while adding seven rebounds and four steals.
Riley DeRubbo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) chipped in 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The Presidents put together a strong all-around first quarter to move in front by a 19-9 score after 10 minutes of play. Grove City pushed out to a 5-4 advantage four minutes into the game. A three-point field goal by Kovalchick put the Presidents back in front and started a 15-4 run to close the quarter. Following a defensive stop, Loutsion completed an old-fashioned three-point play with a driving layup and free throw. The Loutsion three-point play made it 10-5 at the 4:19 mark. A three-point field goal by
Raegan Kadlecik (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) and a pair of late free throws by
Jacey Mullen (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield Local) with .3 seconds gave the Presidents the double-digit lead heading into the second quarter. W&J scored 14 points off turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.
W&J opened the second quarter with the first six points. A jumper by DeRubbo stretched the advantage to 24-9 with 7:45 remaining before halftime. Grove City found some offense from the perimeter, which helped them put together an 11-3 run to cut the W&J lead to 27-20 at the 2:59 mark. The Red and Black finished the half with five-straight points to carry a double-digit lead, a 32-20 advantage at halftime.
W&J continued to roll in the second half as Grove City never really threatened to make a comeback. The Red and Black put together their most productive offensive frame during a third quarter in which they shot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Consecutive field goals by Kovalchick swelled the W&J lead to 43-24 at the 5:57 mark. Later in the quarter,
Jaden Wan (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock) made back-to-back three-point attempts to extend the lead to 53-33 after 30 minutes of play.
The Presidents' lead reached as many as 26 points during the final quarter as the visitors coasted to victory.
W&J held advantages in rebounding (46-31), points off turnovers (23-11) and points in the paint (38-22). The Presidents limited the Wolverines to 28.8 percent shooting (17-of-59) for the game.
W&J hosts Franciscan University of Steubenville on Wednesday (Feb. 4). Start time at Salvitti Gym is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
