PHILADELPHIA – The #6/10 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (14-1) scored 29 points in the first quarter and lead as many as 37 points as the Rams rolled into a 88-51 non-conference victory over Bloomfield College (3-11) in Thursday evening action.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
Jefferson got out early to a 11-2 lead with Haley Meinel scoring seven of her team-leading 20 points on the night. Bloomfield would get a basket from Kamrin Babbs and two free throws by Tiara Mahorn, but the Rams would score the next 16 points in the last 4:37 of the first. Cassie Murphy, Sam Yencha, and Emma Kuczynski would all have four points as Jefferson went into the second quarter up 29-6.
 
The Bears would succeed in the second quarter by outscoring the Rams 19-16. Bloomfield would go 4-7 from beyond the arc, all shot and converted by Taneshia Tucker. Jefferson would see Emily Keehfuss score three of the Rams first five points to begin the second. Tucker would make her first three, with Anisha Able hitting her jump shot to make it 36-14. Murphy would make a jumper, but Tucker converted on her second three. Meinel would have two out of the Rams 13 steals on the day, and forcing Bloomfied to turn over the ball 21 times as she would also convert on a three to have it 41-17 with 4:51 to go. Tucker would go on back-to-back shots from beyond the arc, and Tiara Mahorn finished the layup to get within 18 points of the Rams. Jordyn Thomas would hit her shot with 27 seconds to go in the break, putting the Rams up 45-25 at halftime.
 
Jefferson would score 22 points in the third, as Yencha would have the first four points of the game which helped her to 14 in the contest. Yencha would also grab eight of her 17 rebounds in the contest, putting her at nine double doubles on the year. Bloomfield would score six of the next eight points, getting the game back to 20-point deficit. After trading points, Meinel would get two jumpers to put Jefferson ahead 59-37. After Tucker made two layups, Morgan Robinson would end the third quarter with six points and two rebound to get the Rams up 67-43 heading into the fourth.
 
Jefferson would show up in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points while holding Bloomfield to only 10. The Bears would score the first two baskets, but Kuczynski hitting a jumper and Murphy hitting two free throws had it at 71-47. After Able scored for Bloomfield, Meinel, Kuczynski, and Murphy would all have a basket to have it 77-49 with 4:16 left in the game. Emily Spratt, Tori Nigro, and Kaya Burkhart would all add to the point total with their own baskets while Janice Ashong grabbed six rebounds as Jefferson concluded their non-conference match with a 88-53 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Haley Meinel: 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting (1-1 3PT), 3 steals
Cassie Murphy: 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists
Sam Yencha: 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting, 17 rebounds, 5 steals
Emma Kuczynski: 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Morgan Robinson: 8 points on 4-of-9 shooting, 8 assists, 4 rebounds
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will take a couple days to rest as they will conclude their home stretch this Sunday, January 14 at 2 p.m. when they host Caldwell University inside the Gallagher Center for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) matchup.