GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Washington and Lee women's basketball team shot just 29.2 percent (19-65) from the field but found a way to gut out a 49-46 win over Guilford in ODAC action on Tuesday evening at the Ragan-Brown Field House.
The Quakers (7-10, 6-6) jumped out to a 13-4 lead in the opening 7:33 of the game, but the Generals' defense would tighten up in holding Guilford to just two field goals in the final 10:20 of the first half. W&L's offense then provided just enough of a lift to give the Generals a one-point advantage (21-20) at halftime.
Senior center Jessica Hunsinger (Mayer, Ariz./Orme School) scored six straight points to open the second stanza and the Generals methodically opened a seven-point lead (40-33) with 7:20 remaining in the game. However, Guilford then went on a 12-1 run over the next 4:55 to assume a 45-41 lead with 2:25 left.
A jumper by sophomore forward Kara Nadeau (Oak Hill, Va./Oakton) just 23 seconds later cut it to a 45-43 game and back-to-back layups by junior forward Kristen Krouchick (Holland, Pa./Nazareth Academy) gave the Generals a 47-45 lead with 25 seconds remaining.
Guilford's Jasmine Wood converted on 1-of-2 foul shots with 18 seconds left to cut the lead to 47-46, but W&L sophomore guard Bethany Ridenhour (Westwood, N.J./Holy Angels) hit a pair of charity tosses with 12 seconds left to provide the final margin. Guilford had one final chance to send the game into overtime, but Jessica Casto's three-pointer with two seconds left would not fall.
The Generals (8-8, 5-7) were paced by Hunsinger's 16 points (12 in the second half) and 11 rebounds. Krouchick tallied 12 points, while Ridenhour notched seven points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Guilford, which shot just 30.2 percent (19-63) from the floor, was led by Tracey Croner's 13 points. Alexa Williams hauled in a game-high 12 boards.
Washington and Lee, which has won five of its last six games, returns to action on Thursday as it travels to Southern Virginia for a non-conference match-up at 7:00 pm.
-- GENERALS --
