Four Players Score In Double-Figures For Bulldogs

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A balanced attack that saw four players score in double-figures was more than enough as the Yale women's basketball team won its third straight game with a convincing 77-58 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on the second day of the Hall of Fame Women's Challenge in the Carmichael Arena.

The Bulldogs (3-1) valued each possession in the contest, recording 17 assists to a season-low 12 turnovers, while forcing 16 turnovers by the Knights. The Elis capitalized, scoring 24 points off Fairleigh Dickinson's miscues.

"For the first game this season, we achieved our goal of 12 turnovers or less. We always talk about taking care of the basketball and I think it's a huge accomplishment today," said Joel E. Smilow '54 head coach Allison Guth. "Given FDU's defensive style, it took a lot of recognition by our point guard – we were poised and patient."

For the third time this season, senior forward Nyasha Sarju (Seattle, Wash.) led the team in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Both totals were game-highs and it is her fourth straight game scoring in double-figures.

Junior forward Katie Werner (Phoenix, Ariz.) added 12 points and eight rebounds (seven offensive) in the win, both season-highs, while senior guard Whitney Wyckoff (West Chester, Ohio) had 12 points and senior center Emmy Allen (Overland Park, Kan.) poured in 10.

"Coach Guth is making sure everyone gets their play time. We have gotten key contributions from everyone," said Werner. "We're playing as a team, and anyone can be the high scorer on any night. That's the key for us to win."

As a team, Yale grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and scored 18 points on second-chance possessions. The Bulldogs also held a sizable 35-15 advantage in bench scoring, led by Allen and sophomore forward Jen Berkowitz (Wayland, Mass.) with eight.

For the second straight day, the Yale defense kept the opposing offense on its toes, holding FDU to just 34.8-percent shooting for the game. Knights' leading scorer Kelsey Cruz, who came into the game averaging 28.5 points per contest, scored just eight points on Saturday evening.

The defensive pressure of Yale's backcourt, notably the play of sophomore guard Mary Ann Santucci (Seattle, Wash.), helped to cause 16 turnovers by the Knights. Four players recorded a steal in the win, while Allen blocked a career-high four shots.

"We're still working on playing defense with our feet and not our hands, and that's an area that will be very important going forward," said Guth.

The Bulldogs used a 21-11 scoring advantage in the second quarter to gain separation, as FDU never held a lead after the first quarter. Yale's largest lead of the game was 21 points.

Shooting from long range was also a weapon in the Eli arsenal on Saturday, as the team shot 33.3-percent (8-of-24) from beyond the arc. Wyckoff and junior guard Lena Munzer (Highland Park, Ill.) each had two three-pointers, while freshman Gabby Nelson (Hurst, Texas) connected on a long ball late in the fourth quarter.

After the Knights cut a once 15-point Yale lead down to eight with 8:39 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs finished the game on a 19-8 run, holding FDU without a field goal for nearly a six-minute stretch in the quarter. Yale never looked back.

The closest FDU got in the third quarter was a seven-point deficit, which Wyckoff added to with a three-pointer on the next possession. Yale had a 37-26 lead at halftime, after causing six turnovers and holding an 11-7 rebounding advantage in the second quarter.

A big momentum shifter at the end of the first quarter was an 8-1 run for the Elis to close out the opening period, after trailing 14-8 at the 2:50 mark. A three-pointer, plus a foul, for Munzer and a layup by Allen gave Yale a 16-15 lead after 10 minutes.

Santucci had a game-high five assists, as the Bulldogs improved to 2-0 in the Hall of Fame Women's Challenge.

Sunday's showdown with North Carolina will be the finale of this three-day, three-game stretch for Guth's squad. Tip-off with the Tar Heels is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Carmichael Arena.

North Carolina is currently receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Polls.

"North Carolina is hungry. They are a team that's athletic and can get to the rim. They fight on the glass and switch-up their defenses," said Guth. "We need a game where we click on all cylinders."

Filed by Steve Lewis, Yale Sports Publicity