WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Sophomore guard/forward Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) finished with a game-high 18 points to pace the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team in a 72-54 victory over visiting La Roche University in the final game of the Springhill Suites Tip-off Tournament at Salvitti Family Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. 

The win improves W&J to 2-1 overall while La Roche falls to 0-2. 

Following a low-scoring effort in a loss to Ohio Northern on Saturday, W&J used a fast start to record a wire-to-wire win over La Roche. The Presidents opened by scoring the game's first 12 points before taking a 23-12 lead after a quarter of play. Sophomore guard Adalynn Cherry (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) drained a pair of early triples to give W&J the double-digit advantage. La Roche responded late in the quarter to climb back within six points (18-12) but W&J responded with the final five points of the opening quarter. 

The Presidents used a spurt to swell their lead to 36-17 midway through the second quarter. Senior forward Victoria Koeck (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) and freshman guard/forward Stellanie Loutsion (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) combined to account for eight straight points. All four of Loutsion's points during the run came at the free throw line. Cherry dished out a pair of dimes on Koeck layups. W&J took a 38-21 lead into halftime. 

W&J continued to lead comfortably throughout the third quarter and carried a 57-35 advantage into the fourth. Early in the fourth quarter, back to back layups by junior guard Kiyanna Dowling (York, Pa./York Suburban) gave W&J its largest lead of the game at 28 points (63-35) with 8:01 to play. The sizable lead allowed the Presidents to clear its bench for the good part of the fourth quarter as they finished off an 18-point victory. 

Cherry registered 11 points, five assists and three steals. Koeck finished with nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Junior forward Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa./North Catholic) and sophomore guard Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) finished with nine points and eight points, respectively, during a balanced W&J effort. 

W&J made 40 percent of its field goal attempts (22-55) in the contest. The Presidents were extremely effective at the free throw line. W&J converted 22-of-24 attempts (91.7 percent) at the charity stripe. The Red and Black held a 45-27 rebounding advantage over the Redhawks. 

The Presidents open Presidents' Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, Nov. 16 when they host Bethany College at 6 p.m.