PHILADELPHIA – The #11/10 ranked Thomas Jefferson women's basketball team (10-1, 2-0) looked to bounce back from their loss last game as they rested during winter break. The Rams responded as they only allowed 11 points in the second half and 15.63 percent shooting for the Wildcats as Jefferson earned a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) win over Wilmington University of Delaware (1-11, 0-2) 83-40 in Saturday afternoon action.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The Rams started off the game off with two baskets from Emma Kuczynski. Wilmington responded as Azayah Garrison made her basket with Amber Washington giving the Wildcats the lead on a three to be up 5-4. Sam Yencha made her own basket, giving the Rams the lead that they would not relinquish. Yencha would get an and-one as well to help spark a 8-0 run, scoring five of her team-leading 21 points on the day. Yencha would also have seven of her 18 rebounds in the first quarter, pushing her to record her seventh double-double on the year. After Cha'Nyah Duston-Mason made her three-pointer for the Wildcats, Jefferson would score eight points in the final stretch as Yencha, Kuczynski, and Cassie Murphy all made their baskets while Emily Spratt made two free throws to finish the first quarter up 20-10.
 
The Rams kept up their momentum, with Kaya Burkhart making two baskets while Murphy made another jumper to push the lead to 26-12. Wilmington would begin to score as Cha'Nyah made a layup and three-pointer, Mia Fuller converted on an and-one to cut the Ram's lead to 26-20 with 7:14 before the break. Jefferson would then go on a 14-3 run, with Morgan Robinson and Murphy scoring six points during that stretch. Spratt would hit her own and-one, helping her to score a career-high 15 points on the day as Jefferson went into the break up 45-29.
 
The Rams would jump into the third with a more defensive mind, only allowing the Wildcats to score six points in the third. Yencha would have two baskets while Robinson made one to put them ahead 51-29. Robinson would have three of her team-leading seven steals in the third. After both teams traded baskets in the middle of the third, the Ram's would end the quarter with Yencha making two jumpers while Spratt hit a three to head into the fourth up 62-35.
 
Jefferson would begin right where they left off, scoring the first seven points as Haley Meinel and Jordyn Thomas made their free throws while Yencha and Robinson made their baskets to get the Ram's up 69-35. Janice Ashong made a free throw and a layup while Spratt hit her second three-pointer of the game. Burkhart, Thomas, and Tori Nigro joined Spratt as they all scored a basket in the final four minutes of the game while only allowing five points for the Wildcats, securing the 83-40 win for the Rams in conference action.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Sam Yencha: 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting, 18 rebounds
Emily Spratt: 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Morgan Robinson: 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks
Cassie Murphy: 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
 
CLOSING IN ON RECORDS
Morgan Robinson added seven assists on the day, putting her to 637 in her career. She is only 18 assists away from breaking the school record set by Maribeth Rogers, who has 654.
 
NCAA STATISTICS 
Here are some of the statistic standings for the Rams throughout the entire Division II Basketball season so far*:
Scoring Margin: 15.6 (19th) 
Winning Percentage: 90% (T-2nd) 
Assists Per Game: 19.1 (2nd) 
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.57 (1st) 
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Morgan Robinson: 80 assists (1st), 8.0 assists-per-game (1st), 1 triple double (T-1st)
Sam Yencha: 116 rebounds (16th), 11.6 rebounds-per-game (5th), 6 double doubles (T-4th)
Haley Meinel: 40 steals (T-1st), 4.00 steals-per-game (T-2nd)
Cassie Murphy: 90% free-throw percentage (T-22^nd))
 
*Tonight's game not inputted into the standings
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will look to get another winning streak going as they return to the Gallagher Center on Thursday, January 4^th when the Rams host St. Thomas Aquinas College in non-conference action at 1 p.m.