WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Freshman forward Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) collected 12 points and 10 rebounds to help No. 4 Washington & Jefferson defeat No. 5 Cabrini, 69-57, in the opening round of the ECAC Southern Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday evening at the Henry Memorial Center.
The Presidents (20-8) clinched their fifth consecutive 20-win season and will now travel to Reading, Pa., on Friday evening (time TBA) where they will face top-seeded King’s College at Albright College. King’s forfeited its hosting rights due to its men’s team hosting a NCAA Tournament game. Albright is the No. 3 seed and will play No. 7 Moravian.
W&J bounced out to an 11-4 lead in the first six minutes , but the Cavaliers (19-9) grabbed a 19-18 lead at the 7:09 mark following a jumper by sophomore forward Kayleen Smith (Williamstown, N.J./St. Joseph’s).
The Presidents upped the lead back to six points following a pair of free throws from freshman point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) with 2:37 left in the half and Gibson’s lay-up with 49 seconds left gave W&J a 33-25 lead at halftime.
Cabrini narrowed the gap to 37-35 four minutes into the second half, but a 15-5 W&J run gave the Presidents a 52-40 cushion with 9:40 remaining. Gibson scored the first five points of the run, while freshman guard Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) tallied the final five.
The Cavaliers were able to get to within 57-51 with 4:31 left on the clock, but W&J sealed the win from the free throw line.
Gibson made 5-of-8 shots from the field and added three assists, while sophomore forward Emily Hays (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) contributed 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Junior forward Maria Hillenbrand (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) finished with 11 points in 15 minutes of action, while junior center Sarah Hunt (Penfield, N.Y./Rochester Schroeder) netted 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Sophomore guard Kaleigh Bangor (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) also grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. W&J shot 44 percent (24-of-55) and held a 46-35 rebound advantage. W&J also dished out 18 assists on 24 baskets.
Freshman guard Kate Walck (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) led Cabrini with 15 points and four boards. The Cavaliers were limited to 33 percent (19-of-57) shooting.
W&J and King’s played in the 2004 ECAC Tournament and the Presidents came away with an 81-61 victory in the opening round in Wilkes Barre, Pa.