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Redhawks Battle in Close Loss to Washington & Jefferson

Redhawks Battle in Close Loss to Washington & Jefferson
Posted: Nov 10, 2018

PITTSBURGH, PA – La Roche College women's basketball battled a tough Washington & Jefferson squad until the final whistle. The Redhawks hung tough, but fell to W&J in their season opener 78-70.

W&J ran out to an early 19-10 lead. The Redhawks found their footing and closed the gap to just three points by the end of the first quarter. Dasja Anderson sparked the run with a layup and then added a putback basket. Danajah Sanders hit her first collegiate basket to get La Roche within three.

Sanders answered a W&J three-pointer to open the second quarter. The Presidents followed with a 7-0 run and started to pull away. W&J outscored the Redhawks 14-5 in the second quarter and entered halftime with a 41-29 advantage.

Jenna Cole had 6 first half points and Sanders had 5 points. Dalesza Regan pulled down 4 boards.

La Roche shot 40% (9 of 22) to W&J's 43% (12 of 28). The Presidents went 9 for 10 from the free throw line in the first half.

Cole came out of intermission and drained a three-pointer.  Teams traded baskets, but Sidney Farmer hit a three, three minutes into the half for a 48-37 game.

The Redhawks continued to attack and clamped down on defense. Regan cut the deficit to ten, picking off a pass and finishing a feed from Nia Thomas. Thomas then grabbed a board and hit a jumper to make it 48-41.

Cole hit a wide-open three pointer to cut it 50-44 and force a Presidents' timeout with three minutes left in the third quarter. The Presidents answered with four straight points and entered the fourth quarter with a 56-46 lead.

Coach Gissendanner drew up a play to begin the fourth and Shaundrea Butler converted to cut it to single digits. Sanders sunk a three from the corner and Thomas a jump shot to get within five with seven minutes left.

The Redhawks limited the W&J offense and a Regan layup cut it to five with 4:45 left. La Roche kept it close down the stretch, but the Presidents held on for the 78-70 win.

The Redhawks shot 40% for the game (22 of 55) and were an excellent 22 of 25 from the free throw line.

Cole finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Sanders and Thomas each reached double figures with 13 points and 10 points. Regan had 8 points and 8 rebounds.