VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The sixth-ranked Washington and Lee University women's basketball team claimed the TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament Crown with an 80-57 win over Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Generals (5-0) opened the game on an 8-0 run thanks to a pair of buckets from Mary Schleusner and one from Riley Bryant. Two straight baskets from Icy Keneah and Schleusner, along with a Bryant three-pointer, gave the Blue and White a 24-12 lead after one quarter of action. The Marlins (3-1) cut the lead to ten following a pair of free throws and a layup from Keira Bagwell, but the Generals responded with a 15-6 run to head into the break with a 43-22 advantage.
- W&L opened the second half with a 15-7 run, featuring buckets from Quinn McGuinness, Zou Raine, Bryant, Caroline Shimp, Keneah, and Sam Collins, to take a 58-29 lead. Bri Shuttlewood connected with Shimp for a layup with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter, extending the Generals' lead to 32 — their largest of the game.
- Virginia Wesleyan scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, trimming the Generals' lead to 21 after Laliana Harris and Isabella Murphy each knocked down three-pointers. Raine and Kate Kennedy both recorded layups to close out the game, securing the 23-point victory for the Generals.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Mary Schleusner posted a game-high 14 points while going 5-for-5 from the field, knocking down her only three-point attempt. She also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists in ten minutes of action.
- Zou Raine (13), Caroline Shimp (12), Quinn McGuinness (11), and Sam Collins (10) each reached double figures in the win, with Raine and Collins setting career highs.
- Raine led the defensive effort with two blocks, while Riley Bryant and Kate Kennedy each registered one. Four Generals recorded steals in the win as well.
- Brianna Long tallied 14 points on 2-of-3 shooting from the field, converting 10 of her 12 free throw attempts. She also added a team-high 18 rebounds and three steals. Keira Bagwell and Bre Robinson contributed seven points each on a combined 6-of-18 shooting.
TEAM STATS
- The Generals moved to 5-0 on the young season, securing the TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament title with the win. W&L was 29-of-59 (49%) from the field while knocking down five shots from beyond the arc. They shot 71% at the free-throw line with a 17-of-24 performance.
- W&L dominated the paint, scoring 48 points while recording 21 off the fast break. For the third-straight game, the Blue and White got 30+ points off the bench as eight players came off the bench for 34 points.
- Defensively, they limited the Marlins to a 17-of-61 performance from the field while forcing 12 turnovers and registering four blocks and four steals.
NOTEWORTHY POINTS
- Mary Schleusner moved into the program's career steals top ten with her one steal today, tying Bethany Ridenhour '09 with 163.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
UP NEXT
- The sixth-ranked Generals are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 22 as they kick off Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play with a 1 p.m. match up with the University of Lynchburg inside Holekamp Gym.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
