GREENSBORO, N.C. - The sixth-ranked Washington and Lee University women's basketball team fought down to the wire to secure a 81-78 road win at Guilford College on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Generals (17-0, 8-0 ODAC) jumped out to a quick lead as Quinn McGuinness and Mary Schleusner recorded back-to-back layups. Markayla Massenburg knocked down a three-pointer before Briahna Scott converted a layup to give the Quakers (14-3, 5-3 ODAC) a one-point edge. Both teams traded baskets before Sam Collins drained a three to put the Generals ahead, 18-11. Sarah Zimmerman capped the opening quarter with a layup to send the Blue and White into the second frame holding a seven-point lead.
- W&L extended its advantage to 37-28 in the second quarter after Zimmerman buried a three-pointer, but Guilford responded by tying the game at 38 following a 10-1 run capped by a Taylor Dunn three. An ensuing 6-1 run gave the Quakers a five-point lead before Schleusner knocked down a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to three heading into halftime.
- Sarah Zimmerman opened the second half with three straight points to tie the game at 44. Guilford answered with nine unanswered points to take a 55-46 lead with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter. The Blue and White responded emphatically, erupting for a 17-0 run that featured 12 points from Schleusner and a three-pointer from Megan Zimmerman.
- After a free throw from Taylor Dunn to open the fourth quarter, the Generals built a 72-60 lead behind layups from Schleusner and Megan Zimmerman, along with two free throws from Sarah Zimmerman. Guilford clawed back within three with a 9-0 run midway through the quarter. With two minutes remaining, Anna Giannopouloi hit a jumper to cut the deficit to one, but Schleusner sealed the 81-78 victory by knocking down a pair of free throws at the line.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Schleusner recorded her 15th double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting while pulling down 28 rebounds. She also added three blocks, one steal, and one assist. Quinn McGuinness contributed 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, knocking down all four of her three-point attempts.
- Sarah Zimmerman and Icy Keneah each dished out a team-high two assists, with Zimmerman also registering three steals.
- The Quakers had three players score in double figures, led by Anna Giannopoulou with 23 points on 11-of-21 shooting while grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds. Taylor Dunn added 20 points, connecting on a team-high three three-pointers, while Briahna Scott chipped in 10 points. Julianna Walter dished out a game-high four assists and recorded four steals in the loss.
TEAM STATS
- The Generals' winning streak extended to 17 games with the three-point victory this evening. The win also marked W&L's ninth straight victory over the Quakers, dating back to the 2021–22 season when the Generals defeated Guilford, 72-61, in Lexington on Dec. 4, 2021.
- The Generals shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the field, while shooting over 50 percent in both the first (57.1%) and third quarters (52.9%). W&L also connected on 41.2 percent (7-of-17) of its attempts from beyond the arc—the second-best mark of the season—while knocking down 20 of 28 free throws (71.4%).
- The Blue and White out rebounded the Quakers, 55-41, but committed 22 turnovers compared to Guilford's 11. W&L scored 38 points in the paint, added 18 second-chance points, and received 23 points off the bench.
NOTEWORTHY POINTS
- Mary Schleusner tied Swarthmore Alum Kathryn Stockbower and Randolph-Macon Alum Kelly Williams in career double-doubles at 83. She now sits one double-double away from becoming the NCAA Division III record holder.
UP NEXT
- The Blue and White are back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 28 as they take on Roanoke College at 6 p.m. for their Sock Society Game. In addition, the first 150 students will receive a $15 gift card to Main Street Lexington for Student Appreciation.
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.
