MARIETTA, Ohio – Senior guard Stellanie Loutsion poured in a season-high 26 points to help the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team (4-0) down host Marietta College (1-4) by an 81-65 score in Friday night action at the 39th annual Jim Meagle Classic.

All five starters finished in double figures scoring for the Presidents. Junior point guard Marina Grado filled the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Graduate student guard Riley DeRubbo recorded a near double-double effort with 13 points and nine rebounds. A pair of juniors, Raegan Kadlecik and Katie Kovalchick, finished with 11 points apiece.

The Presidents, who entered the game ranked 25th in the most recent WBCA Coaches Poll, scored the opening eight points of the game. A three-point field goal by DeRubbo stretched the lead into double figures at 18-8 with 2:33 remaining in the first. Marietta closed the quarter with eight of the next 10 points to cut the W&J lead to 20-16 after 10 minutes.

The Pioneers carried that momentum into the second quarter. Marietta used an 11-5 run to take its first lead at 27-25 midway through the frame. Loutsion accounted for the next nine points to help W&J regain the lead. W&J made eight free throws over the final 2:09 to maintain a lead into the halftime break.

W&J methodically added to its lead in the third quarter. A driving layup by Grado boosted the lead to 50-43 at the 5:34 mark. The Red and Black pushed the lead back into double figures before settling for a six-point lead entering the fourth.

The Presidents put together their best shooting quarter of the night in the fourth. W&J converted 7-of-12 field goal attempts and 11-of-14 free throw chances over the final 10 minutes. Eight straight points to open the final quarter helped W&J put a stranglehold on the lead. A three-point lead by Loutsion made it 71-60 with 3:51 left.  

W&J entered the night as one of the top free throws shooting teams in Division III. The Presidents were able to get to the line often in Friday's win. W&J drained 28-of-34 attempts, converting at an 82.4 percent clip.

The Presidents face a quick turnaround as they will face nationally ranked SUNY Cortland on Saturday (Nov. 22) at 1 p.m. to wrap up the weekend at the Jim Meagle Classic hosted by Marietta College.