WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team rode hot early shooting and pressure defense to record a 78-54 victory over visiting Allegheny Tuesday evening in a non-conference game at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa./North Catholic), Kamryn Lach (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and Aleena McDaniel (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) all finished in double figures during a balanced offensive attack for the Red and Black. Thirteen different Presidents scored in the win over the Gators.
The Presidents converted 19-of-40 field goals during a strong opening 20 minutes. After a layup by Emily Lauer got Allegheny on the board first, W&J countered with the next 16 points. A trio of made three-point field goals by Lach highlighted the early run by the Presidents. A three-point field goal by Adalynn Cherry (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) gave W&J a 21-6 lead with 2:23 to play in the first quarter. A layup by Piper Morningstar (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and a pair of free throws by Cherry gave W&J a commanding 25-8 lead after the first quarter.
W&J stretched its lead to 20 points on a jumper by Tori Boalton (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) that made it 32-12 at the 7:20 mark of the second quarter. A three-point play by Maddi Gutierrez (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) extended W&J's lead to 46-22 with 25 seconds to play before halftime. After a three-point play by Allegheny, Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) raced the length of the court for a layup that beat the halftime buzzer. Bezjak's basket gave the Presidents a 48-25 edge at halftime.
Berardelli recorded back-to-back field goals to open the third quarter scoring as the lead swelled to 52-25. A three-point basket by Boalton in the waning seconds of the third gave W&J a 63-39 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. A layup by Nautica Burwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) gave W&J its largest lead of the night at 32. The basket by Burwell with 6:49 to play made the score 73-41 Presidents. Alyssa Pollice (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) got into the scoring act, as her three-point field goal with 4:41 to play made the score 76-45.
W&J held advantages in points off turnovers (30-8), second chance points (21-13), bench points (41-25) and points in the paint (42-28).
Berardelli finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals to pace the Presidents. Lach finished with 12 points while McDaniel added 10 points off the bench. Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) filled the stat sheet, as she finished with five points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Cherry tallied eight points while Burwell finished with four points and five rebounds off the bench.
Emily Lauer led Allegheny with 12 points and eight rebounds.
W&J (2-2 overall) hosts Capital University for a non-league game on Saturday, Nov. 27. Tip off is set for 1 p.m. at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.