WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team rode a strong defensive performance to pick up a 58-46 win over visiting Denison University in the Springhill Suites Tip-off Tournament Friday night at Salvitti Family Gymnasium. 

The Presidents forced 17 turnovers and held the Big Red to just 18 made field goals to earn the victory. W&J outscored Denison 15-3 in points off of turnovers and held a decisive 38-14 edge in points in the paint. 

Senior guard Piper Morningstar (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) recorded a career-high 18 points to lead all scorers. Morningstar added six rebounds and three assists. 

Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa./North Catholic) was a big part of the Presidents efforts inside, as the sophomore forward finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Freshman guard Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) registered her first collegiate double-double, as she tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Red and Black. 

A layup by Berardelli gave W&J a 6-5 advantage with 6:03 to play. The Presidents led 10-7 after the first quarter and held the lead for the remainder of the contest. Back-to-back scores by freshman guard Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) pushed W&J's lead to 16-12 at the 7:17 mark of the second quarter. Baskets by senior guard Kamryn Lach (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and Dryburgh gave the Presidents a double-digit lead at 24-14 with 4:43 to play before halftime. Morningstar tacked on six consecutive points to finish off a 16-2 run for the Presidents that swelled the lead to 30-14 at the 2:01 mark. The Big Red recorded the final field goal of the half to make the score 30-16 at the break. 

The Presidents continued to hold a commanding lead throughout the third quarter. However, a three-pointer by Maddie Goodman brought Denison within six points (38-32) early in the fourth quarter. The Big Red could get no closer as a basket by Dryburgh with 6:35 to play made it 46-36 Presidents. Dryburgh finished off her double-double by converting a layup with 42 seconds left. 

W&J made 25-of-66 field goal attempts for the game. They converted 50 percent of their field goal attempts in both the second and third quarters. 

The Presidents (1-1) will face La Roche in the championship game of the Springhill Suites Tournament Championship game on Saturday at 3 p.m.