Washington & Jefferson College

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Washington & Jefferson senior point guard Vanessa Rivera (Reading, Pa./Wilson) posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists to power the Presidents past La Roche 63-60 in non-conference women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

The Presidents (6-5) also received 10 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Ashley Kirkpatrick (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) as well as a team-high 14 points from senior forward Courtney Walsh (Mill-Hall, Pa./Central Mountain). 

The Redhawks (7-3) held the early lead, but the Presidents roared back with a 16-5 rally to grab a 26-19 lead with 7:26 left in the half.  Kirkpatrick had three baskets during the run, while Rivera scored a pair of buckets.

Amanda Garland nailed a three-pointer for La Roche to end the spurt, but W&J started another run, a 15-7 stretch to end the half with a 41-29 lead. 

W&J led 46-35 with 15:44 remaining, but the Redhawks scored 14 of the next 16 points to claim a 49-48 lead midway through the second half.  The Presidents regrouped and used a 7-0 run five minutes later to post a 59-53 edge with 3:58 left.  Walsh had two baskets during the run, while freshman guard Alexa DelGreco (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) knocked down a key three-pointer. 

La Roche refused to go away and Casie Cygan’s trifecta with 38 seconds left brought the hosts to within 61-60.  Walsh answered with a lay-up for a three-point lead with 15 seconds remaining and the Redhawks missed their final three-point shot. 

Rivera added five rebounds for the Presidents, who held a 35-30 edge on the glass.  W&J shot 46 percent overall (28-of-61), including 58 percent accuracy in the first half.

Cygan led La Roche with a game-high 19 points.  The Presidents held the Redhawks to 33 percent shooting (22-of-67). 

W&J gets back into conference play on Wednesday when hosting Bethany at 6:00 pm.