#12/18 Women's Basketball Opens Season with Win Over Queen's (N.Y.)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The #12/18 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball (1-0) began their 2024-25 campaign at the East Region Challenge at Chestnut Hill College, where the Rams earned a 69-48 non-conference win over Queen's College (0-1) in Saturday afternoon action. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

• Jefferson got the first four points from a Sam Yencha jumper and two Cassie Murphy free throws. 

• After the Knights scored eight in a row, the Rams put their foot on the gas, outscoring Queen's 16-4 through the rest of the first quarter. Yencha added seven points, including an and-one, while Emma Kuczynski put a three in for Jefferson 

• Emily Spratt made two free throws while Murphy ended the quarter with a layup, putting Jefferson up 20-12 

• Spratt opens the second with a layup while Arianna Lopez hits a three for Queens 

• Gabby Recinto records her first collegiate basket while the Knights respond with three straight baskets 

• Kaya Burkhart scores five straight as a three-pointer and jumper while Yencha connects on back-to-back shots as the Rams go up 35-21 with 2 minutes before the half 

• Another six points for the Knights get the closer to Jefferson, but a layup by Yencha has Jefferson up nine at halftime 

• The third quarter was close as the second, with Jefferson holding a 15-14 advantage 

• The Rams put six points to open the quarter from Murphy and Spratt, but the Knights responded with a three-pointer and an and-one play 

• Both teams had players go 1-2 on the line throughout the period, but Recinto brushed that off with a 4-4 on the charity line near the final minutes of the third as Jefferson went into the fourth up 52-42 

• The Rams dominated the fourth, outscoring Queens 17-6 

• They began with a 14-2 run that saw Spratt make three shots, Recinto nailing a three-pointer and being 1-2 on the line, a Burkhart shot, and Jordyn Thomas basket to make it 66-44 

• The Knights scored four straight points near the end of the game, but Carolyn Sipprell earned her first collegiate points off a jumper to nail the final of the match in favor of the nationally ranked Rams 69-48 

TEAM STATS 
FG: 26-of-68 (38.2%) 
3PT: 3-of-9 (33.3%) 
FT: 14-of-18 (77.8%) 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 
Sam Yencha: 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, 3-4 FT, 16 rebounds 
Emily Spratt: 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 3-4 FT, 2 assists, 2 steals 
Gabby Recinto: 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting (1-1 3PT), 5-6 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 steals 
Cassie Murphy: 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting, 2-2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists 
Emma Kuczynski: 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting (1-4 3PT), 3 rebounds 
Kaya Burkhart: 7 points on 3-of-6 shooting, 4 assists 
Carolyn Sipprell: 2 points on 1-of-1 shooting 
Jordyn Thomas: 2 points on 1-of-1 shooting 
Tori Nigro: 1 point on 0-1 shooting, 1-2 FT, 5 assists 

UP NEXT 
Jefferson will look to continue the momentum as they continue the East Region Challenge when the Rams play tomorrow on Sunday, November 10 at 12 p.m. when they face Molloy University.