LEXINGTON, Va. (Dec. 5, 2015) – After not being able to play in Tuesday's contest, freshman guard Bella Taylor returned to the lineup and scored a career-high 27 points as the Sewanee women's basketball team earned a 71-66 win at Washington & Lee, Saturday, inside the Warner Center.
The Tigers are now 5-3 while the Generals fell to 3-4.
After scoring only two points in the first quarter, Taylor dominated the scorebook the second, third, and fourth quarters with 25 points, four rebounds, and two assists the final 30 minutes of play.
With the game tied 15-15 after the first, Sewanee took a 20-19 lead early in the second after a jumper by Taylor and a three by classmate Corey Caulder. Taylor then scored seven straight points to give Sewanee a 27-23 lead with 2:55 left in the first half.
After a three by senior Jamie Chauvin, Caulder gave Sewanee a 32-26 halftime lead with a layup as time expired.
Out of the locker room, Sewanee's offense kept clicking. The Tigers scored the first six points of the third quarter en route to a 12-point, 38-26, lead. During that stretch, Taylor scored four points while Haley McDonough hit a jumper after senior Savannah Rose started a fast break with a steal.
W&L answered back with a three by Emily Perszyk on the Generals' next possession. After eight straight points from Perszyk, W&L cut its deficit to two, 42-40, with 3:53 left in the third.
However, Sewanee answered right back with a jumper by McDonough and two free throws by Taylor.
With 9:42 left to play, freshman Olivia O'Connell connected on a jumper that opened an 11-3 run by Sewanee to start the fourth quarter. From there, Sewanee never gave up its lead. Over the final minute of action, Chauvin and Taylor iced the game with a 5-of-6 effort at the free throw line.
Overall, Sewanee's defense was outstanding. The Tigers forced 18 W&L turnovers, which led to 18 points. Sewanee also limited the Generals to a 24.1 three-point field-goal percentage.
Along with Taylor, Chauvin added 16 points and six rebounds. McDonough added eight points and six boards while freshman Katie Wayne also finished with eight.
Perszyk paced W&L with 19 points while forward Shelbi Hendricks added a 11-point, 12-rebound double-double. Guard Jackie Clifford pitched 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Sewanee returns to action with a 7:00 p.m. (EST) contest at regional-rival Covenant, Tuesday.
For more information on Sewanee Athletics, please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com. You can also check the Tigers out on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr.