ROANOKE, Va. - The sixth-ranked Washington and Lee University women's basketball team secured their fifth Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win of the season as they defeated Hollins University, 78-61 on Wednesday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded three-pointers to open the game before Hollins (11-3, 3-2 ODAC) went on a 7-0 run to take a 10-5 lead two minutes into the contest. The Generals (14-0, 5-0 ODAC) responded by closing the first quarter on a 17-4 run to take a 24-16 lead heading into the second frame. W&L opened the run with nine unanswered points, highlighted by baskets from Sarah Zimmerman and Mary Schleusner.
- Caroline Shimp and Sam Collins each knocked down a pair of shots to start the second quarter, extending the Blue and White's lead to 12. Hollins cut the deficit to two with five minutes remaining in the half after scoring on three straight possessions, but W&L answered with 10 consecutive points to take a 10-point lead into the break. Elka Prechel drained a pair of three-pointers during the run, while Quinn McGuinness and Icy Keneah also added points.
- The Generals maintained an 11-point advantage early in the third quarter as Prechel connected on another three, but Hollins answered with a six-point swing to cut the margin back to five. A McGuinness three-pointer then sparked a scoring surge, as the Blue and White went on a 12-0 run to build a 17-point lead. Sarah Morales added a three late in the period for Hollins, sending the Generals into the final quarter with a 63-50 lead.
- Nearly two and a half minutes came off the clock to start the fourth quarter before Sarah Zimmerman ended the scoring drought with a layup. The Blue and White pushed the lead to 18 with four minutes remaining after layups from McGuinness and Zimmerman. Riley Bryant added a layup with 37 seconds left to seal the 78-61 victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Senior Mary Schleusner added another double-double to her season, scoring 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56%) while grabbing a game-high 19 rebounds. Sarah Zimmerman (14) and Elka Prechel (12) also scored in double figures, with Prechel knocking down four three-pointers.
- Zimmerman, Quinn McGuinness, and Icy Keneah each dished out four assists in the win, while Zimmerman also registered a team-high three steals.
- Zaria Holden led Hollins with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting (66%) from the field, connecting on three of her four attempts from beyond the arc. Gracie Huffard pulled down a team-high six rebounds and added four blocks, while Kennedy Leggett dished out a game-high four assists for the Maroons.
TEAM STATS
- The win marked the 14th straight victory for the Blue and White, tying the program record set by the 2023-24 squad from Jan. 20, 2024, to March 8, 2024. The 17-point victory also extended W&L's winning streak over Hollins to seven games, pushing the all-time series advantage to 45-13 in favor of the Generals.
- The Generals shot 42.2 percent (27-of-64) from the field and connected on 32.0 percent (8-of-25) of their attempts from beyond the arc. W&L knocked down 16 of its 21 free throws (76.2%).
- The Blue and White out rebounded Hollins, 47-29, but committed 20 turnovers, two more than Hollins' 18. W&L scored 32 of its 78 points in the paint, added 19 points off turnovers and 17 on the fast break, and received 28 points from the bench.
NOTEWORTHY POINTS
- Mary Schleusner now ranks second all-time in Division III history in career rebounds with 1,675 and is just 36 rebounds shy of becoming the division's all-time leading rebounder.
- Schleusner also ranks fourth all-time in Division III history with 80 career double-doubles, moving past Julie Anderson of Johns Hopkins '98 with her performance this evening.
- Quinn McGuinness climbed the program's record book as well, moving past Jessica Morton '00 into eighth place all-time in career assists with 231.
UP NEXT
- The Generals are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17 as they travel to Ashland, Va. for 2 p.m. tip off against Randolph-Macon College.
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.
