Jan 04, 2012
After trailing by just one at halftime, the Bethany College women's basketball team shot 25 percent in the second half and Washington & Jefferson pulled away for a 76-59 triumph over the Bison Wednesday night.
The loss snapped Bethany's three-game winning streak and leaves them at 7-5 overall and 3-2 in the conference. The Presidents have now won four in a row to take their marks to 7-5 and 2-3 in the PAC.
W&J took its biggest lead of the first half with a 15-2 run that pushed them in front by a 21-10 margin. It was still a 10-point difference when junior Kayla Taormina cashed in a three to ignite a 15-6 half-closing surge that trimmed the Presidents' lead to 33-32. Taormina had seven during the run and recorded a dozen markers by the break.
Junior Anne Wilson knocked down a three to open the second half and the Bison were back on top. Following a Wilson foul shot, W&J's Kara Seamon hit a three and the home team was back in front for good. The Presidents later used a 13-3 run to take their lead to double digits and BC would only get as close as seven the rest of the way.
Wilson finished as the top scorer for the Bison with 16 points, while Taormina contributed 14 points, six rebounds and three steals. Senior Audra Droginske came off the bench to chip in 13.
For W&J, who outscored Bethany 38-12 in the paint, the inside duo of Ashley Kirkpatrick (22 points, six rebounds) and Courtney Walsh (12 points, 13 rebounds) was too much to handle. In addition, point guard Vanessa Rivera scored 16 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the foul line.
The road does not get easier for the Bison on Saturday, as they host Waynesburg, who went to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the PAC with a win at Saint Vincent Wednesday night. Tip-off for Saturday's tilt is 2 p.m.