Yencha Reaches 1,000 Points; #3/4 Women's Basketball Rallies Late to Survive Close Game Against Caldwell
CALDWELL, N.J. - Sam Yencha scored her 1,000 point in her career during the matchup while the Rams rallied in the fourth quarter down five to comeback against the Cougars as the #3/4 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (24-1) survived an upset with a 75-73 win against Caldwell University (7-17) in non-conference action.
WHAT HAPPENED
Jefferson climbed to an early lead with 22 points, but Caldwell stayed close by having 18 in the first quarter. Cassie Murphy had four points early on with Morgan Robinson and Sam Yencha each had a score to get the Rams up 8-2. Kuczynski would get her four points in the first on back-to-back shots, but Caldwell would not stay away as they jumped on a 10-2 run to get ahead 16-14. Murphy would help lead the Rams to get back ahead in the final two minutes of the game, scoring four of her 10 first quarter points in that stretch, as Jefferson went into the second up 22-18.
The Cougars would rally in the second quarter, outscoring the Rams 17-11. Haley Meinel would hit a three pointer to extend the Rams lead. Yencha would make her next shot, putting her at six points and pushing her to 1,000 in her career. Caldwell would go on a 15-6 run for the rest of the second quarter, as Jahnel Lewis had eight points, going 2-2 from beyond the arc, and Shauntia Alexander making the last basket to have Caldwell head into the break over Jefferson 35-33. Emily Spratt would have a basket in the quarter alongside Murphy.
Jefferson would have 23 points in the quarter, but Caldwell would get 24 to edge them out. The Cougars would go on a 21-8 run for majority of the third, going 9-of-13 on the floor and 6-8 from beyond the arc. The Rams would end the third with a 15-3 run, with Kuczynski hitting a three-pointer, Yencha making 4-6 on free throws, and Robinson getting three points as the Rams would trail Caldwell 59-56.
The Rams would tie it at 61-61 with Kuczynski making another three and a Spratt field goal, but Caldwell kept pushing their attack with a 7-2 run to jump ahead 68-63 with 6:47 to go. Jefferson battled their way to a 11-2 scoring spree, with Yencha, Kuczynski, Robinson, Spratt, and Meinel all getting on the scoreboard. Lucy Coogan would hit a three to get within one. Kuczynski made a free throw, putting her to a team-leading 17 points, with 9 seconds to go. Caldwell was unable to get a score in the closing seconds as the Rams were able to walk away with a 75-73 victory.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Emma Kuczynski: 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting (2-5 3PT), 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Sam Yencha: 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 4-6 FT, 16 rebounds, 3 assists
Cassie Murphy: 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 4-4 FT, 7 rebounds
Haley Meinel: 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting, 5 steals, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks
MILESTONE
Yencha earned 16 points on the night, pushing her to the 1,000 point milestone in her career. She is the 38th Ram to achieve that feat, following Murphy (Dec. 9th, 2023) and Meinel (Dec. 22nd, 2022) on that list.
Robinson has 979 points in her career, trailing by only 21 to reach 1,000 alongside Yencha.
UP NEXT
Jefferson will look to finish out the CACC play ahead of the conference tournament as they travel on the road to Georgian Court University on Saturday, February 24 at 12 p.m.
