WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- Lauren Gilbert (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) put together one of the all-time scoring efforts in program history to propel the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team to a 95-84 road victory over Waynesburg University on Saturday afternoon at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.   

Gilbert scored early and often as part of a 40-point performance against the Yellow Jackets. That total matches the single-game school record for points, which was previously established by Denise DeSimone vs. Bethany on Feb. 29, 1980 and by Kelly Stacey vs. Waynesburg, Jan. 20, 1990.

The 40 points eclipses Gilbert's previous career-high of 32 points in a road win against Thiel College on Jan. 3, 2019. The 40 points was the most by a PAC player since a 42-point effort by Jess Vormelker of Thiel on Jan. 6, 2018.

Gilbert scored in a variety of ways, as the junior made 13-of-24 field goal attempts in the contest. Gilbert matched a career-high with seven made three-pointers in 10 attempts. Gilbert was 7-of-10 at the free throw line while adding a game-high six assists and pulling down four rebounds.

W&J needed every one of the Gilbert's 40 points in a high-scoring contest that saw both teams convert 50 percent or better from the field in the first quarter. Waynesburg connected on 12-of-21 field goals to take a 25-22 edge after 10 minutes.

Gilbert evened the score with a three-pointer on the Presidents' opening possession of the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets would counter with a 19-10 run, capped by a three-point field goal to take a 44-35 advantage with 2:33 left in the half.

The Presidents closed the half with a 10-3 run, which included the final five points by Gilbert, cutting the Yellow Jackets lead to 47-45 after 20 minutes. Gilbert entered halftime with 21 points while junior guard Hannah Johnston (East Freedom, Pa./Central) added 10 markers.

Waynesburg converted 52.9 percent (18-of-34) of its field goals during the first half. The Yellow Jackets made 5-of-9 three-pointers. W&J drained 15-of-33 field goal attempts, which included 7-of-11 three-point shots.

The Presidents opened the third quarter with an extended 14-4 run, taking a 59-51 lead on a pair of free throws by junior forward Alie Seto (Allison, Pa./Brownsville) at the 6:29 mark. A little later, a made three-pointer by Gilbert pushed the Presidents lead into double digits at 65-53 with 4:56 to play in the third.

Back-to-back triples by sophomore Maddie Gutierrez (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and a pair of free throws by Seto extended the W&J lead to 74-61 at the 1:22 mark. Waynesburg scored the final four points to close the gap back into single digits at the end of three.
 
The Presidents were able to hold the lead in the fourth quarter but the Yellow Jackets made things interesting. The hosts closed the deficit to as few as five points twice in the final frame before W&J sealed the win with two free throw makes apiece from Gilbert and Seto. The final free throw by Gilbert helped her reach the 40-point mark.

The 95 points tied for the seventh most in a single-game in W&J women's basketball history. Seto and Johnston joined Gilbert in double figures scoring. Seto finished with 19 points while Johnston added 15 Junior forward Maria Lawhorne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds in the victory.

Brooke Fuller scored a team-high 19 points for Waynesburg, who had four players score in double figures.

W&J did good work at the free throw line once again, as the Red and Black made 28-of-35 free throws at the charity stripe. Waynesburg converted 16-of-19 at the line.
 
With the win, the Presidents improve to 4-2 in league play and 9-5 overall. The loss drops the Yellow Jackets to 1-4 in the PAC and 2-12 overall.

The Presidents return to game action when they travel to Bethany for another PAC tilt on Saturday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.