December 16, 2008
WC Stuns Dutchmen, Off to Best-Ever Start
O'Donnell Scores 25 Points as Shorewomen Improve to 5-1

CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Washington College women's basketball team improved to 5-1 for the first time in team history with a 74-68 win over visiting Lebanon Valley in a non-conference game tonight at Cain Athletic Center. The Shorewomen got a game-high 25 points from junior guard Jane O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) in the win.

Washington used a 12-0 run to take a 20-12 lead on a jumper by freshman guard Meghan Tait (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) with 10:52 remaining in the first half. The Shorewomen led by at least three points the rest of the half and saw the margin grow to as many as 10 following a 7-0 run capped off by two free throws from senior guard Brianne Slizofski (Collegeville, PA/Pius X) with 5:28 left which made the score 31-21. Washington held a 39-31 lead at the intermission.

The Shorewomen built three more 10-point leads early in the second half, but a 7-2 spurt by the Flying Dutchmen (6-2) trimmed the lead to 63-61 on a pair of free throws by Megan Bish with 4:15 remaining. The Shorewomen got three shots off on the next trip down the floor, but came up empty. Each team came up empty on its next possession and Lebanon Valley had the ball with two minutes left and a chance to tie or take the lead. After a missed lay-up and offensive rebound, Andrea Hoover was whistled for a charge with 1:23 left. O'Donnell then ended the scoring drought for both teams by banking in a three-pointer with 1:02 to play to give Washington a 66-61 advantage.

Lori Lidlow missed a jumper on the next possession for the Dutchmen and Washington junior forward Julie Sherwood (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 37 seconds to play. Sherwood made both free throws to extend the lead to 68-61, beginning a run of eight straight makes for the Shorewomen in the closing seconds as they held on for the 74-68 win.

O'Donnell's 25 points came on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the three-point arc, and 5-of-7 shooting at the free-throw line. She also swiped a career-high four steals. Sherwood tallied career highs of 10 points and 12 rebounds to post her first career double-double. Tait added 12 points and four assists, while junior guard Jessica Jamrogowicz (Marlton, NJ/Bishop Eustace) finished with 10 points and four assists.

Lidlow led Lebanon Valley with 21 points and three steals. Eryn Schultz added 15 points and five boards, while Hoover tallied 12 points, a game-high seven assists, and five rebounds. Megan Bish contributed 10 points and a team-high seven board for the Dutchmen.

Washington shot 43% from the field in the game to Lebanon Valley's 49%. The Shorewomen were 8-of-18 from three-point range, while the Dutchmen were 5-of-10. Both teams also shot well at the free-throw line with Washington going 20-of-23 and Lebanon Valley going 11-of-14. The Dutchmen enjoyed a 34-28 advantage on the boards, but turned the ball over 19 times to Washington's 12. The Shorewomen took advantage of those miscues, scoring 25 points off turnovers to Lebanon Valley's nine.

Lebanon Valley came into the game allowing just 49 points per contest. The Shorewomen are just the third team in eight games this season to score at least 50 points against the Dutchmen. Washington's win also avenged a 68-46 loss to Lebanon Valley last season which saw the Dutchmen build a 41-17 halftime lead.

The Shorewomen return to action Monday, January 5th, with a 7:00 p.m. non-conference home game against Hood College.

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