PHILADELPHIA – The #6/10 Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (13-1, 4-0) shot 19-32 in the first half, 59.4% on the floor, and scored 45 points during that period as the Rams kept their unbeaten Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) record intact in a 81-49 victory over Georgian Court University (1-11, 1-2) in Tuesday evening action.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
Both the Rams and Lions had their best offensive outing in the first quarter, with Jefferson scoring 25 points compared to Georgian Court's 15. Morgan Robinson and Haley Meinel scored early for Jefferson, but Imani Gillette had four points to even the game at 4-4. Jefferson would go on a 8-0 run as Robinson scored four points while Emma Kuczynski made her jumper and Cassie Murphy capitalized on the free throw line. Gilette would add another four points for Georgian Court, scoring the first eight for the Lions and 10 in the first quarter. Murphy would have a jumper later down the stretch and Meinel converted on a three to make it 19-9. Tori Nigro would score near the end of the quarter, alongside Meinel's two free throws, to head into the second up 25-15.
 
The Rams would have control in the second quarter, scoring 20 points over the Lions nine. A 9-4 run early run that saw Emily Keehfuss and Robinson score followed by and an-one from Meinel to put Jefferson up 34-19. Gillette would have four more of her team-leading 22 points on the night while Jada Jacobs made her fastbreak layup to cut into the Ram's lead 34-21. Jefferson would then score nine unanswered points with Sam Yencha scoring five from two layups, with one of them being and an-one play that would put them ahead 43-21. Jesseina Edwards would have her own and-one, but Keehfuss ended the half with a jumper to get Jefferson in the break up 45-24.
 
The third would see the Rams still outscore Georgian Court 17-12. Murphy would have six of her 12 points in the third, while Meinel seven of her team-leading 24 points and three of her six steals in the game. Georgian Court would see Marta Guilera score six points in this period, as the Rams would head into the fourth up 62-36.
 
The fourth would still fall into the Ram's favor, with 19 points in the quarter. Meinel would add one more and-one to her game as Nigro, Emily Spratt, and Janice Ashong would all have at least one rebound while Kaya Burkhart made her lone shot in the fourth. The Rams would finish the fourth victorious, staying undefeated in the CACC.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Haley Meinel: 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting (2-2 3PT), 4-4 FT, 6 steals, 4 assists
Morgan Robinson: 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 6 assists, 4 steals, 4 rebounds
Sam Yencha: 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, 6-9 FT, 10 rebounds, 5 assists
Cassie Murphy: 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 assists.
 
Before the start of the men's basketball game, women's basketball head coach and athletic director Tom Shirley recognized senior guard Morgan Robinson for breaking the all-time assist record in Jefferson school history, a record that lasted nearly 40 years.



UP NEXT
Jefferson will make a quick turnaround as they have another home stint inside the Gallagher Center, this time a non-conference matchup with CACC opponent Bloomfield College on Thursday, January 11 at 5:30 p.m.