PHILADELPHIA – The #8/7 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball (7-0) went into the break with a one-point lead, but were able to drop 40 points in the second half as they shot around 60% in the last two quarters to give the Rams the 77-56 victory over Lincoln University (2-2) in non-conference action this Tuesday evening.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The Lions took an early 5-0 lead off a Ciani Montgomery three and a Maya Madison layup, but the Rams would go on a 12-0 run with Emma Kuczynski scoring six of her 19 points in that stretch. Sam Yencha helped with getting two offensive rebounds, helping her reach a season-high 15 on the night. Lincoln would get within two points, but Kuczynski and Morgan Robinson would make their layups while Cassie Murphy hit two free-throws, adding to her team-leading 20-point performance. Kuczynski would conclude the quarter with an and-one conversion as the Rams went into the second up 21-12.
 
Lincoln would have their best performance in the second quarter, shooting 11-19 on the floor, a 57.89 shooting percentage, as they'd outscore Jefferson 24-16. The Rams would get ahead 27-18, but the Lions answered with nine straight points, with Anyssa Fields stealing the ball and getting the fast break points to give Lincoln a 29-27 lead with 4:43 left to play. Jefferson would respond, getting back into a tie and taking the lead off a Yencha layup. After a three from Montgomery and a jumper, Kuczynski would make her own shot and two Yencha free throws sent the Rams into the break up 37-36.
 
Trying not to be upset after making the top-10 in the WBCA polls today, Jefferson would control the third period as they'd outscore the Lions 24-7. Jefferson shot 61.11% on the floor with 11 of their 18 shots making it in. The Rams would have a 14-0 run that would last around five minutes, with Haley Meinel making four of her 13 points on the night and two of her season-high seven steals as well. Meinel and Murphy would have the last two baskets in the quarter, with the Rams heading into the fourth up 61-48.
 
Both teams would be close in score, 16-13, with both teams shooting over 60% or better in the final quarter. Yencha, Meinel, Kczynski, and Murphy all would score in the begging of the period to be up 71-45. The Lions would cut into the lead, but Jefferson would still hold their double digit lead to the end and conclude the matchup with a 77-56 win. Robinson would have four of her season-high 12 assists in the fourth quarter.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Cassie Murphy: 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 6-6 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Emma Kuczynski: 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Sam Yencha: 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, 15 rebounds, 3 assists
Haley Meinel: 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, 7 steals, 5 assists
Morgan Robinson: 6 points on 3-of-7 shooting, 12 assists, 2 steals
 
UP NEXT
#8/7 Jefferson will now have their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) game of the season, as they will not go far for their road matchup when they face Chestnut Hill College on Saturday, December 2 at 1 p.m.