Senior guard Katie Kestler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) added a game-high 22 points for the Gators, who improved to 2-1. The Presidents fell to 1-2, marking the first time W&J has been under .500 since dropping the opening game of the 2004-2005 season.
The Gators jumped out to a 9-3 advantage in the first three minutes after a pair of baskets by Wolf and Kestler. The lead stretched to 29-22 with 2:39 left in the first half, but freshman point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) brought W&J to within three points at halftime (31-28) with two buckets in the final two minutes.
Killeen’s lay-up at the 14:37 mark of the second half narrowed the gap to 37-36, but the Presidents were held to four field goals for the remainder of the game. Freshman guard Brittany Bell (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) netted 11 of her 14 points in the second half, including a pair of three-pointers which stretched the one-point lead to six. Bell finished the game a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor, including four triples.
Kestler made 8-of-12 shots from the field, including 5-of-9 accuracy from three-point range. Wolf made 7-of-14 shots for the Gators, who connected on 45 percent (25-of-56) of their attempts.
Killeen led the Presidents with 12 points, five assists and three steals. Sophomore guard Veronica Kust (Oakmont, Pa./Riverview) added seven points, six rebounds and four assists, while freshman forward Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) ripped down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Washington & Jefferson shot 35 percent (19-of-54) and held a 36-32 advantage on the boards.
The Presidents return to action on Saturday at the Marietta Tournament where they will take on the host Pioneers at 8:00 pm.