INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball team picked up its 16th win of the season, 73-56, over West Virginia State University Thursday night. The Cardinals led for the full 40 minutes of play.

With the victory, WJU continues to hold sole possession of second place in the Mountain East Conference standings.

Jaila Bryant once again led the Cardinal attack. The Pickerington, Ohio native tallied 19 points on 6-14 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and two assists. Bryant is now averaging 15.4 points per game, which is good for 10th in the MEC.

"We got off to a great start in the first quarter and managed to take a lead into the half," WJU head coach Debbie Buff stated. "I thought we played great in the fourth quarter. Our shot selection improved and we were able to pick up our 16th win. Jaila (Bryant) and Mariah (Callen) displayed great leadership and controlled the tempo of the game. Our reinforcements gave us 23 points. It was a good win over a very athletic West Virginia State team."

WJU opened the game on a 9-2 run and led by 15 after the first ten minutes of play. The Cardinals (16-3, 11-2 MEC), who rank first in the MEC in scoring defense at 60.2 points per game, held the Yellow Jackets (9-10, 6-7 MEC) to just four first quarter points.

Freshman Chenelle Moore chipped in two of her nine points early in the second quarter (9:40) when she converted a pair of free throws to stretch the Cardinal lead to 17.

The Yellow Jackets scored the next 10 points, but their run was answered immediately by the Cardinals. WJU scored eight of the next 10 points, stretching its lead back to 14. WJU took an 11-point lead into the break.

The first six points of the second half went to the Cardinals. Bryant made a layup just four seconds into the half. Taylor Lubinsky received a pass from Bryant and converted a layup of her own 30 seconds later. Jaana Motton capped the 6-0 run with a layup at 8:03.

West Virginia State minimized the WJU lead heading into the fourth quarter, as they trailed by just five points.

The Yellow Jackets got within three points (46-43) of the Cardinals with 9:39 remaining before WJU made the deciding run of the game. WJU outscored West Virginia State 27-13 down the stretch in route to its 73-56 victory.

The largest WJU lead, 20 points, came with 53 seconds remaining when Damonique Patterson knocked in two of her eight points in the game.

Sophomore Mariah Callen scored in double figures for the 12th time this season. The Morgantown, WV native chipped in 12 points, six assists, two steals, and two rebounds.

Freshman Chenelle Moore and Damonqiue Patterson combined for 17 points on the night. Moore nearly recorded her third double-double of the season, as she finished the contest with nine points and nine rebounds. Patterson added eight points to go along with two rebounds.

Jaana Motton added eight points and four rebounds to the Cardinal totals. Lubinsky added six points, while Cassi Stein and Lydia Hyburg each knocked in four points. Kyle Frizell rounded out the Cardinal attack with three points and four rebounds.