WHEELING, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball team opened up Mountain East Conference play as they jumped out to an early lead over Urbana University on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals led by 15 at the half before going on to win by a score of 88-61.
WJU (3-1, 1-0 MEC) controlled the tempo of the game, scoring the first eight points of the contest. The lead grew to 14 points just over five minutes into play. The Blue Knights (1-1, 0-1 MEC) managed to cut into the Cardinal lead, trailing by eight at the end of the first quarter.
WJU took a 15 point lead into the half and the lead only grew from there. The Cardinal lead was as high as 24 in the third quarter before taking a 21 point lead into the final quarter of action. Chelsea Richardson shot a perfect eight for eight from the free throw line late in the fourth, leading to the 27 point Cardinal victory.
"It's always great to get the first conference win," head coach Debbie Buff stated. "We have great depth thanks to our reinforcements off the bench. We got off to a quick start which is always one of our goals. We have to keep getting better every game."
Jaila Bryant led the Cardinals in the first half of action with 10 points and three rebounds, while Cassi Stein tallied nine first half points to go along with three boards. Kylie Frizell added seven points in six minutes of action off the bench over the first 20 minutes of play.
Mariah Callen paced the Cardinal offense over the final 20 minutes. She scored 13 points in the second half alone and finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
Bryant finished the contest with another balanced attack of 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, and one block. Bryant has been a double-digit scorer for the Cardinals each of their four games this year.
Frizell finished with 10 points and three boards in 13 minutes off the bench. Jaana Motton was a key part of the Cardinal defense today as she recorded 11 rebounds to go with eight points, while adding five assists and three steals. Stein finished her second straight start with nine points, four rebounds, and two steals.
Patterson and fellow freshman Chenelle Moore contributed 17 collective points. Patterson finished with nine points and five rebounds while Moore shot four of six from the field. She finished with eight points, two rebounds, and two steals.
The Cardinals return to action on Monday, November 23 when they host Notre Dame College at 5:30 p.m.
