NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team coasted to a 62-50 victory over the host Westminster Titans in a Presidents' Athletic Conference matchup at Ron Galbreath Court inside Buzz Ridl Gymnasium Wednesday evening.
 
The win Wednesday was the fourth straight for the Presidents, who remain in a tie for first place tie with a 9-1 record in PAC play. The Red and Black are 13-2 overall. The loss drops the Titans 6-4 in the league and 8-6 overall.
 
Junior guard Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa. / Albert Gallatin) led the Presidents tonight with a team-high 12 points and added three assists. Senior center Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa. / North Catholic) would provide the team-high seven rebounds under the boards. Junior guard Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) chipped in nine points, six rebounds and two steals. 
 
The Titans had an optimistic start, gaining a 7-2 lead on the Presidents over the first 4:15 before the Red & Black were able to turn the tide and score the next seven points to gain the lead. A good bucket from Bezjak and Dryburgh accompanied by three good free throws from Dryburgh accounted for the W&J run. The Titans would tie things up at 9-9 with 4:34 left before another Presidents run gave them a strong hold on the lead. Back-to-back three-point field goals by Adalynn Cherry (Altoona, Pa. Altoona Area) and Dryburgh followed by a good layup from Hannah Archer (Lowell, Ohio / Fort Frye) made the score 17-9 in W&J's favor. Stellanie Loutsion (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) knocked down a triple late in the quarter to help W&J carry a 20-12 lead into the second quarter. 
 
W&J took command of the game with a strong second quarter. The Presidents limited the Titans to just two made field goals during the quarter. W&J outscored Westminster 18-6 in the quarter to take a 38-18 lead into the break.

Bezjak accounted for 8 of 17 points for the Red & Black in the third quarter. Bezjak scored the first six points of the third quarter for the Presidents, putting them up 44-26 at the 5:12 mark. Katie Kovalchick (Shelocta, Pa. / Indiana Area) would score the next bucket for the Presidents, followed by respective buckets from Bezjak and Loutsion before the Titans answered with two baskets to bring the W&J lead back to 50-30. The final five points of the quarter for W&J came from the free throw line. Freshman guard Raegan Kadlecik (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) and Cherry drained a pair of free throws while Dryburgh split her attempts.
 
W&J maintained its double-digit lead throughout the fourth before closing out the victory.
 
W&J shot 37.9 percent (22-58) from the floor and went 13-of-20 (.650) from the free throw line. Westminster shot 27.9 percent (19-68) from the field and converted 8-of-15 (.533) free throw attempts. W&J turned 15 Westminster turnovers into 17 points off turnovers. Westminster finished with a 48-43 rebounding advantage. 
 
The Presidents will return to action at Allegheny College on Saturday, January 13^. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.