PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team never trailed and topped visiting Shippensburg (2-1), 73-69, to move to 3-0 on the season on Wednesday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams were even at eight with 4:50 to go in the opening quarter. The Rams closed the period with a 13-4 run to take a 21-12 lead into the second. Haley Meinel led the way with nine points during the stretch.
 
After the Raiders began the second period with a free throw, Jefferson came back with five points to up the margin to 13 (26-13) with 8:27 on the clock. Shippensburg cut the deficit to 10 (28-18) but the Rams answered with eight of the next 10 points to make it 36-20 with 3:13 to go. Cassie Murphy scored six of the eight points. Jefferson led 40-26 at halftime.
 
The margin was still 14 (44-30) with 7:46 remaining in the third quarter. The Raiders got back in the game with eight straight points to get within six (44-38) at the 4:31 mark. The Rams held a 47-41 advantage with 3:43 left before embarking on a 8-0 run to restore a 14-point cushion (55-41). It was a 12-point game (57-45) entering the fourth.
 
Meinel and Maeve McCann drilled back-to-back threes to start the final quarter and give Jefferson its largest lead at 18 (63-45). However, Shippensburg rallied throughout the rest of the frame, scoring 24 of the next 33 points to close the gap to three (72-69) with just two seconds left. However, it was too little, too late as Morgan Robinson made one shot at the foul line to put the game away.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Haley Meinel: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Emma Kuczynski: 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Sam Yencha: 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Morgan Robinson: 7 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 1 block
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 27-of-61 (44.3%)
3PT: 6-of-19 (31.6%)
FT: 13-of-19 (68.4%)
 
NOTES
- Emma Kuczynski's 14 points are a career high.
- The Rams made a season-high six three-pointers.
- It was Jefferson's fourth straight victory against Shippensburg.
- The Rams are 3-0 for the second consecutive season.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson hosts Kutztown on Saturday, November 19^th at 2 p.m.