SILINSGROVE, PA – Women's basketball won their first game of the season on Sunday afternoon thanks to a
Caleigh Ryan '22 buzzer-beating three-pointer. Ryan did it on both ends of the floor, first blocking what would have been the go-ahead layup and then taking the ball back the other way and hitting the game-winner just before the final horn. Ryan averaged 19 points and 12.5 rebounds a game this weekend, earning her All-Tournament Team honors.
The Wesleyan women defeated William Paterson in the consolation game of the Susquehanna Tip Off Tournament 62-59. This win will move the Cardinals back to .500 on the year, sitting 1-1 two games into the new season. The loss moves William Paterson at 0-2.
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
- Wesleyan jumped out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to some great defense, allowing the offense to get out into transition
- William Paterson quickly got back into the game, tying it up with five minutes to go in the first quarter. The rest of the quarter saw multiple lead changes, with the final one coming with 13 seconds left. Ryan drove the lane and finished through contact for the and-one, sinking the free throw to give the Cardinals a lead going into the 2nd quarter
- A Maggie Lee '23 layup with 6:19 left in the half gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game at seven points
- Wesleyan held that two-possession lead until late in second quarter. William Paterson made a run to end the half, however, as Sierra Strong scored four unanswered to give the Pioneers the lead 33-32 going into the break.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
- The third quarter was more of a defensive battle as both teams were held under 14 points, and neither was able to pull away. It concluded with two unanswered buckets for the Cardinals to put them up four
- A three from Marina Petruzzi '22 went through to open up the second half which tied the Cardinals biggest lead of the afternoon at seven
- William Patterson came storming back, finally tying the game back up at 57 with 1:23 remaining off a short jumper by Brianna Brooks. They would go on to take their first lead of the quarter on their next possession when Yakira Rosa came through with a long two-point jumper to pu them up 59-57
- After a Cardinals timeout, they came out and put the ball in Maddie Clark's '22 hands. She drove the lane and finished a soft floater over two waiting defenders to even the game with just eight ticks left on the clock
- William Paterson went to their leading scoring Brianna Brooks for what appeared to be the final possession of the game. She drove right, but her shot was swallowed up by the Cardinals' defense. Ryan came out with the ball and pushed it down the far sideline, took a peek at the clock and let a 22-footer go that fell through the net as time expired giving Wesleyan their first win of the season
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Ryan finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals on way to being named to the All-Tournament Team
- This win marks the first for Wesleyan women's basketball since the pandemic began (494 days ago)
- Ryan reeled in a career-high 17 rebounds
- The Cardinals got out running throughout the afternoon, producing 22 fastbreak points
UP NEXT:
Wesleyan will play in their first home game at Silloway Gymnasium since 2020. They will compete in the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament where they will open up by playing Hartwick (2-1), Friday at 6:00 PM.
