STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- Aleena McDaniel (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team in an 84-55 road victory over Franciscan University of Steubenville Thursday evening. 

The win keeps the Presidents undefeated in conference play, as they improve to 4-0 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play and 7-3 overall. Franciscan falls to 0-10 overall and 0-4 in the conference. 

McDaniel was the lone President to score in double figures as W&J boasted a balanced attack offensively.

Piper Morningstar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa./North Catholic), and Adalynn Cherry (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) all finished with nine points apiece. Nautica Burwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) and Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) finished with eight points each. 

Franciscan opened with four straight points to take an early lead. However, W&J shook off the slow start offensively and built a 12-8 lead after the opening quarter of play. Consecutive baskets by McDaniel and Burwell in the final minutes of the opening quarter gave the Presidents the four-point edge. 

With the score tied at 12-12, W&J used an 18-0 run in the second quarter to take a commanding 30-12 lead over the host Barons. Morningstar accounted for eight points during the lengthy W&J run. Cherry added consecutive three-point field goals to help W&J carry a 41-25 lead into halftime. 

Victoria Koeck (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) found the net from behind the arc twice in the third quarter and recorded all seven of her points in the frame as the Presidents continued to build upon their lead. A layup by McDaniel gave W&J a 65-33 lead with 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter. 

Maddi Gutierrez (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette), Taylor Brenner (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland), Tori Boalton(Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) and Skylar Bibbee (Fairfax, Va./Chantilly) all found the scoring column during the fourth quarter. 

W&J held a 35-3 edge in points off turnovers and a 56-14 edge in bench points. The Presidents forced the Barons to commit 31 turnovers.

Franciscan was led by Felicia MacGillivray, who recorded 13 points. 

W&J is scheduled to return to play on Wednesday, January 12 against PAC competitor Waynesburg. Tip off is slated for a 5:30 P.M. start time.