#3/5 Women's Basketball Stays Undefeated in Conference Play; Takes 70-40 Win Against Wilmington
WILMINGTON, DE. - The #3/5 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (22-1, 12-0) outscored the Wildcats in every quarter, holding a 33-13 halftime lead and putting up 20 points in the third quarter, as the Rams rolled to a 70-40 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South win against Wilmington University of Delaware (1-22, 0-12) in Wednesday evening action.
WHAT HAPPENED
After the Wildcats hit a three to have an early lead, Jefferson, who has clinched a CACC Championship Tournament appearance, scored the next 10 points to help them lead in the first quarter 18-8. Sam Yencha had six points in the first quarter while Haley Meinel, Cassie Murphy, and Emma Kuczynski all had four apiece for the Rams.
The second quarter wouldn't see any points until the 5:59 mark on a Morgan Robinson free throw. Murphy and Yencha would score a basket for Jefferson to extend their lead to 23-8. Daja Claiborne made her shot and got the and-one to get a three point play, but the Rams would finish the second on a 9-2 run and head to the half up 33-13. Yencha had seven points in the second, scoring 13 of her team-high 17 points in the first half. Emily Keehfuss would have a three pointer made in the second, with Murphy and Emily Spratt scoring two points apeice.
Wilmington would begin to score in the third quarter, but Jefferson still held the point differential 20-16. The Rams would start the third on a 16-4 run that put them up 49-20. Meinel, Murphy, Robinson, Yencha, and Kuczynski all had score during that stretch. The Wildcats would start to get their momentum in the latter half of the quarter as they would outscore Jefferson 12-4. Robinson would make a basket and Kaya Burkhart hit both her free throws to head into the fourth with the Rams up 53-29. Kuczynski had five points in the quarter, with Robinson and Yencha adding four apiece.
The fourth would see Jefferson outscore Wilmington 17-11. The Wildcats would have an and-one play to begin the fourth and outscore Jefferson 5-4 early on. Spratt hit her shot while Murphy made two free throws in that stretch. Wilmington made a three, but Keehfuss would respond with her own shot beyond the arc. The Wildcats would make two free throws, but not score until the final basket of the game. Jefferson would take advantage of that, going on a 7-0 run with Robinson having two layups, Spratt hitting her shot, and Jordyn Thomas making a free throw as the Rams walked away with a 70-40 win.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Sam Yencha: 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 5-6 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Cassie Murphy: 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 5-6 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Morgan Robinson: 9 points on 4-of-8 shooting, 9 rebounds, 8 assists
Emma Kuczynski: 9 points on 4-of-10 shooting (1-3 3PT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists
SCORING MILESTONE
Yencha and Robinson are both getting closer to 1,000 points on the year. Yencha is 24 away from 1,000 while Robinson 33 from joining Meinel and Murphy in that club.
UP NEXT
Jefferson will return to the Gallagher Center as they take on CACC opponent University of Bridgeport on Saturday, February 17 at 2 p.m. as the Rams will honor their senior's on Senior Day.
