Carnegie Mellon Women’s Basketball Drops Hard Fought Battle to W&J

Dec. 5 – (WASHINGTON, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon women’s basketball traveled to Washington, Pa. Tuesday, December 5, as they fell 65-58 to the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College. With the loss the Tartans move to 4-2, while the Presidents improve to 5-2.

Carnegie Mellon started the game on a 6-0 run over the first 2:40, but not before the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson went on a 9-2 run to take the lead 9-8 with 14:17 in the first half. The Presidents would build their lead to 15-11. A timeout by the Tartans sparked a 5-0 run giving Carnegie Mellon the 16-15 advantage with 7:53 to play in the first stanza.

Over the next three minutes there were four lead changes and three ties. During the stretch Carnegie Mellon sophomore forward Jeanette Schilling (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) had five of her eight first half points. The Presidents then went on a 10-3 run to take a 31-24 lead into the locker room.

The Tartans would cut the Presidents lead to four (38-34), but a 10-0 run lifted W&J to a 48-36 lead that ended on a pair of foul shots by Tartan sophomore guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) with 13:40 to play. Aleski’s foul shots started a 10-2 run for the Tartans pulling within six (50-46) with just over eight minutes to play.

W&J would build their lead back to ten (58-48), but the Tartans would once again cut the deficit, as they would pull within three (60-57) with 1:47 left in regulation. Sophomore Emily Hays of W&J would hit a jumper on the en suing possession to extend the Presidents lead to 62-57, as they would go on for the 65-58 victory.

Lead the way for the Tartans was sophomore forward Ashley Rothwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Alvernia) cashing in with a game-high 17 points. Junior guard Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Canevin Catholic) added 13 for the Tartans and Schilling finished with a season-high 10. Carnegie Mellon had the edge on the glass pulling in 36 rebounds to the Presidents 35.

The Tartans will be back in action Thursday, December 7 when they host Grove City College in Skibo Gymnasium. Tip is set for 5:00 p.m.