#8/7 Women's Basketball Has Strong Second Quarter Surge; Cruises to Victory Over Millersville
MILLERSVILLE, PA – The #8/7 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (9-0) would outscore the Marauders 18-2 in the second period, putting themselves in a comfortable lead that they would hold onto as the Rams defeated Millersville University (2-5) 65-40 in non-conference action this Monday night.
WHAT HAPPENED
The first quarter was tight between both teams, as the Rams edged out the Marauders 15-12. Brennen Ortwein and La'shyra Williams both had good baskets that got Millersville ahead 4-3 early in the contest. Haley Meinel got two scores in a row that helped Jefferson retake the lead 7-6, but Williams answered back while Jabria Ingram made her shot for a Millersville 8-7 lead with 3:29 left in the first. Sam Yencha would make two layups while Cassie Murphy and Morgan Robinson each had a basket in the Ram's 8-0 run that pushed them ahead 15-8. The Marauders would get two more buckets before the first quarter ended, with the Ram's holding a three-point lead.
The Rams would dominate the second quarter, outscoring the Marauders 18-2 in this period. They would have the first 11 points in the quarter, with Robinson making a free throw while Murphy, Meinel, and Yencha hit their shots with Emily Keehfuss converting on a three-pointer to put Jefferson up 33-14 at the break.
The Marauders would respond in the third, outscoring Jefferson 19-14. Williams and Sophie Elstone would make the first two baskets in the third quarter. Murphy would respond with a layup and two made free throws. Morgan Mahoney would have seven points in the third quarter for Millersville, including an and-one play, while Makia Shaw had four points. Emma Kuczynski would make a jumper alongside Yencha, keeping Jefferson's lead to 47-33 as they entered the fourth quarter.
The Rams would not give the Marauders a chance to catch up, scoring 18 points while holding Millersville to eight in the last quarter. Keehfuss hit another three, as she went 3-5 on the night, while Robinson hit a jumper in the paint to begin the fourth. After a Mahoney free throw and Elstone layup, Keehfuss would respond with two free throws and hit her third free on the night, getting the Rams ahead 57-36 with 5:01 left in the match. Yencha would have five rebounds in the fourth quarter, giving her a double double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, her fifth of the season. The Rams would go 8-4 in the last five minutes, as Janice Ashong made a basket alongside Yencha while Meinel and Robinson hit both free throws to finish the game with a 65-40 victory and staying undefeated on the season.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Sam Yencha: 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 12 rebounds, 4 steals
Cassie Murphy: 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 5-5 FT, 2 rebounds
Haley Meinel: 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting, 3-4 FT, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Emily Keehfuss: 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting (3-5 3PT), 2-2 FT, 2 steals
Morgan Robinson: 8 points on 2-of-7 shooting, 3-4 FT, 8 assists, 8 rebounds
JEFFERSON MILESTONE
Murphy scored 15 points on the night, putting her at 997 in her career. She only needs three points to become the 37th Jefferson women's basketball player to reach the 1,000 point milestone.
Robinson is 36 assists away from becoming the Ram's all-time leader in assists.
UP NEXT
#8/7 Jefferson will look to get their players closer to the records and continue their winning streak as the Rams will host Bloomsburg University on Saturday, December 9 at 2 p.m. inside the Gallagher Center.
