Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. – First-year guard Taylor Casey (Brentwood, Tenn. / Franklin Road Academy) hit a school-record eight three-pointers and scored a career-high 29 points as the Washington and Lee women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with an 84-75 win over Bridgewater on Saturday at Nininger Hall.
Casey finished 9-of-14 (.643) from the floor and a sizzling 8-of-12 (.667) from beyond the arc in posting the most points by a General since the 2010-11 season. The eight three's broke the former record of seven held by Allie Long '11 since the same year.
W&L (8-8, 4-4) opened the first quarter with a 15-5 lead over the first 4:49 courtesy of six points from junior guard Emily Perszyk (Greendale, Wis. / Greendale). However, W&L went cold over the final five minutes and Bridgewater (10-7, 3-5) closed the opening stanza with a 14-2 run to take a 19-17 lead into the second period.
The Generals went 1-for-7 from the floor the close the period and senior guard Jessica Lam scored six points as the Eagles seized the lead. Junior center Kaitlyn Lehan scored the first points of the second period for Bridgewater, as the Eagles upped their lead to 21-17 at 9:10. Casey hit a triple the next time down the floor to key a 9-4 run that gave the Generals the lead back at 26-25 with 6:11 left to play in the half.
The two teams traded the lead four times over the next four minutes and change, before junior forward Ailyn Kelly (Clifton, Va. / Centreville) gave the Generals the lead for good (33-31) with a layup at the 1:20 mark. Casey followed with a three-pointer at the 0:19 mark for a 36-31 lead at the break.
The Eagles attempted to make a run at grabbing the lead back early in the third period, but Casey hit three triples in the opening 3:34 of the second half to keep the Generals in front. W&L could not pull away for a comfortable lead, but five points from Casey in the final 48 seconds, including her fourth three-pointer of the third period, made it a 65-53 game entering the fourth quarter.
Bridgewater cut it to a five-point game (69-64) with 4:43 left, but the Generals repeatedly had the answer, including hitting 11-of-14 free throws in the final 2:25 of the contest.
Casey's effort was supplemented by 16 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals from Perszyk, who was 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. Kelly added 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, while junior forward Emma Redding (Allentown, Pa. / Central Catholic) contributed seven points, three rebounds and two blocks.
Bridgewater was paced by Lam, who scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Lehan notched 16 points, seven boards, four blocks and three assists.
Washington and Lee will return to action on Wednesday when it travels to Randolph for a 7:00 pm contest.
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