PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Nov. 9, 2026) – Led by a double-double from junior Gabby Recinto (Marlton, N.J. / Cherokee), the Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team opened the 2026-27 campaign with a 62-54 victory over visiting Millersville University on Monday evening.
Recinto made her presence felt at both ends of the floor, finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and two blocks. She saved some of her most important work for the fourth quarter, where she contributed eight points and six rebounds to help the Rams create the separation they needed down the stretch to close out Millersville comfortably.
Jefferson's defense gave the home team room to work through an uneven shooting night. The Rams generated 14 steals and forced 20 turnovers while committing just nine themselves, turning those extra opportunities into a 17-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Their work inside was equally important, with Jefferson finishing with 26 points in the paint and collecting 15 offensive rebounds.
Senior guard Tori Nigro (Philadelphia, Pa. / Villa Joseph Marie) provided a steady hand offensively, connecting on all four of her field goal attempts en route to 13 points. She also led the Rams with five assists and went 5-for-6 at the free throw line, including four makes in the final 29 seconds to help put the game away.
The Rams took the lead for good late in the first quarter when Recinto followed her shot with an offensive rebound to set up the three-point play. Jefferson carried a 17-13 advantage into the second period, where sophomore guard Ana Pellecchia (Mullica Hill, N.J. / Clearview Regional) supplied five points off the bench. Her three-pointer with 2:52 remaining pushed the lead to eight, and the Rams held Millersville to just nine second-quarter points to enter halftime ahead, 28-22.
Senior guard Emily Spratt (Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks West) helped Jefferson maintain its edge after the break, scoring six of her nine points in the third quarter. She also finished with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals without committing a turnover in 37 minutes of action.
Still, the Rams needed one more push to take control. With Jefferson leading 46-44 midway through the fourth quarter, Recinto delivered consecutive layups, adding a free throw on the second to give her team a seven-point cushion. Sophomore guard Caleigh Sperling (Lansdale, Pa. / North Penn) then came up with a steal and found freshman guard Cassidy Kruesi (Manalapan, N.J. / St. Rose / University of Tampa) for a three-pointer, completing an 8-0 run that stretched the lead to 54-44 with 3:34 remaining.
Sperling's contributions extended beyond that sequence. She scored four of her six points in the final period, including a layup off a Nigro assist with 1:21 to go after the margin had narrowed to five. From there, Jefferson finished the job at the charity stripe, with Nigro and Spratt combining to make all six of their free throws in the final half-minute. The Rams went 8-for-9 at the line in the fourth quarter and 16-for-20 for the game.
Head Coach Tom Shirley and the Rams will look to build on 1-0 when they host Molloy University on Saturday, Nov. 14 in the first day of the TJU-hosted East Region Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Gallagher Athletic Center.
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