Box Score SLIPPERY ROCK, Penn. – The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball season got underway on a high note with an 80-77 victory at Slippery Rock on Tuesday.
 
The Cardinals used a balanced attack from three veteran leaders who accounted for 47 of the Cards 80 points. The win puts WJU at 1-0 early in the season.
 
"I think we played a decent overall game, it was a good team effort," said WJU head coach Deb Buff. "Our vets were solid for us. They helped keep us poised, and hit shots when we needed them. We have some things we need to work on but they are fixable."
 
The Cardinals went on a 15-1 run to close out the first half, giving the cards a 46-32 lead, and plenty of momentum heading into the break. Slippery Rock battled their way back as the minutes counted down, spurred on by WJU trouble. The lead was insurmountable for SRU, however, and the Cards went on to take the 80-77 win.
 
Leading the way for the Cards was Breanna Butler, the sophomore guard from Oak Hill, Ohio who went 6-14 from the field and 4-6 from the foul line to tally up 18 points.
 
Checking in with 16 points on 6-11 field goals was senior guard Taneka Lewis out of Akron, Ohio.
 
Adding to the veteran leadership was junior guard Emily Robinson from Circleville, Ohio who was 4-6 from three-point land and totaled 13 points.
 
In total 11 Cardinals saw playing time in the season opener, with the bench checking in for eight points in the first half and 11 points in the second for a total of 19.
 
The Cardinals are on the road again this Saturday when they take on Tiffin University at 6pm.