PHILADELPHIA – The #19/11 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (6-0) shot 50.9% while holding the Golden Rams to only 32.9% on the floor as the Rams earned the upset top-25 non-conference matchup victory over the #6/9 ranked West Chester University (4-1) to hand them their first loss of the season.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The Rams went out ahead 4-0 before the Golden Rams scored 10 straight points with Leah Johnson having a steal, basket, and assist in that span. Jefferson would cut the lead to one and have it at 15-14 with Yencha recording four of her 16 points on the day. West Chester would build their lead to 19-14 until Haley Meinel ended the first quarter with a basket and the and-one conversion to have Jefferson trail 19-17 heading into the second quarter.
 
West Chester would keep their lead to 33-21 with less than four minutes to go in the quarter, but the Rams would find their spark as they scored 10 straight with Meinel hitting two three-pointers and a layup while Morgan Robinson had her own shot make it into the net as it became 33-31 with 2:17 to go. After trading free throws and a basket by Johnson was made, Cassie Murphy hit her layup and Yencha recorded the last rebound of the period, one of her 12 rebounds for her third straight double double on the season, as the Golden Rams headed into the break leading the Rams 39-38.
 
Emma Kuczynski would begin the third with a jumper to give Jefferson the lead 40-39 to begin the third. Robinson, Yencha, Murphy, and Tori Nigro would all score in the third quarter, holding off West Chester who would respond by earning free throws or making their own baskets. After Emily McAteer hit her layup to give the Golden Rams the lead, Kuczynski would respond by scoring to have Jefferson retake the lead and head into the fourth up 54-51.
 
Anna McTamney hit a three to even the game at 54-54, but Murphy would make two shots and Meinel would convert on a layup to make it 60-54 with 7:15 to go. After the Rams were up 66-59, West Chester would make one-of-two free throws then convert on an and-one by Michelle Kozicki to make it 66-62 with under three left to play. Jefferson would make the most of their lead, having ball control through the last three minutes and going 9-14 at the line to walk away this top-25 matchup with a 75-63 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Haley Meinel: 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting (2-7 3PT), 5-5 FT, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Sam Yencha: 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
Cassie Murphy: 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 2 steals
Morgan Robinson: 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Emma Kuczynski: 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 3-4 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
 
UP NEXT
#19/11 Rams will stay at home in the Gallagher Center as they welcome Lincoln University (Pa.) on Tuesday, November 28 at 6 p.m.