Women's Basketball improves to 13-1 in PAC with 74-33 win vs. Thiel

More news about: Washington and Jefferson

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team racked up 42 points during the first half as the Red & Black never looked back en route to a 74-33 victory over Thiel in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon.

W&J moves to 16-4 overall and 13-1 in PAC play. The loss drops Thiel to 4-12 overall and 2-8 in league play. The victory gave W&J a sweep of the regular season series. W&J won at home against Thiel by a 78-45 score on Jan. 24.  

Freshman forward Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) hit her second consecutive game in double-figures, recording 10 points and adding five rebounds. Kamryn Lach (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) joined Dryburgh in double figures by adding 10 points.

W&J opened with the game's first eight points. Victoria Koeck (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) drained a three on the game's first possession. A little later, Piper Morningstar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) added a three-point play to cap the early run. After a Thiel basket, Lach drained a three before Aleena McDaniel (Morgantown, W.VA./Morgantown) accounted for four straight points to make the score 15-2 at the 1:56 mark. Koeck drained a jumper just before the end of the first quarter as W&J led by a 17-4 margin. 

The Presidents outscored the Tomcats by a 25-9 edge in the second quarter to take a commanding 42-13 lead at halftime. Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) and Tori Boalton (Boyertown,Pa./Boyertown Area) accounted for the first five points in in the second quarter before Thiel was able to draw a foul and convert two free throws to stop the 5-0 run. Consecutive three-pointers by Adalynn Cherry (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) highlighted the second quarter for the Presidents. 

W&J continued to dominate in the third quarter, as the visitors outscored Thiel by a 19-10 margin in the frame. Taylor Brenner (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) accounted for seven of the Presidents' 13 points in the fourth quarter as W&J coasted to the victory. 

Destiny Merriweather led the Tomcats with a game-high 12 points and seven rebounds.

W&J held a decided advantage in bench scoring (39-16) in the victory. The Presidents continued to share the ball well offensvely, as the Red and Black assisted 21 of 29 made field goals in the game. Defensively, W&J forced Thiel to commit 24 turnovers and allowed just 12 made field goals. 

W&J returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Salvitti Family Gymnasium as they host Waynesburg University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be broadast by the PAC Sports Network at pacstream.net.