SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Chenelle Moore posted her third double-double of the season to guide the Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball to its 18th win, 66-58, over Shepherd University Thursday night. Moore finished with a game high 20 points and 10 rebounds.
With the win, WJU maintains its share of first place in the Mountain East Conference standings.
"I am very proud of the way we fought tonight," WJU head coach Debbie Buff stressed. "Chenelle (Moore) played a great game to finish with 20 and 10, and Damonique (Patterson) gave us a huge boost in her 32 minutes. We locked down and played great defense to hold Shepherd under their average of 71 points. We knew coming in that they were a very skilled team. It was a good win on the road."
The Shepherd Rams (5-16, 4-11 MEC) scored the first five points of the game to take the early advantage. However, WJU (18-3, 13-2 MEC) responded and took its first lead, 10-9, with 3:23 remaining off a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Mariah Callen.
The Cardinals clung to their advantage and went into the second quarter ahead by a point.
Freshman Chenelle Moore made the first two baskets of the second period and opened up the five-point Cardinal lead. Shepherd ended the quarter on a 9-4 run to send the game into the intermission tied at 29.
The score became tied at six different points in the third quarter. Moore scored the final six Cardinal points to give WJU its 45-43 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
The beginning stages of the fourth quarter appeared to be a continuance of the third. The game saw four more ties, the final one coming with 5:23 remaining, before WJU finished the game on a 15-7 run to seal its fourth-straight victory.
Moore scored eight points down the stretch to secure the victory. Callen converted a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining to finalize the eight-point margin.
Bryant finished second for WJU with 16 points while grabbing six rebounds and swiping one steal in just 13 minutes of action. Callen chipped in nine points, five from the charity strike. The Morgantown, WV native dished out five assists and stole five passes on the night.
Damonique Patterson added nine points, three boards, and a block to the Cardinal boxscore. Senior captain Taylor Lubinsky turned in five points and two rebounds while Jaana Motton added four points and four rebounds. Lydia Hyburg added a basket of her own, and Cassi Stein finished with a point and three rebounds.
WJU returns home for a 2 p.m. tipoff against Fairmont State on Saturday, February 6.
