HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team improved to 4-1 with a 62-45 win over Wilson (4-3) on Tuesday night at Gooding '84 Arena, powered by a dominant defensive performance that included eight blocks and 10 steals.
Caroline Orza led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 9-for-19 from the field and knocking down five 3-pointers. Shae Mercer added nine points, all from beyond the arc, and handed out five assists. Audrey Jakway finished just shy of a double-double with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds while contributing two blocks and two steals. Brianna Feifer chipped in five points and two blocks, and Cayla Menicola pulled down a career-high seven rebounds.
Wilson (4-3) was paced by Leah Laubach's 15 points. Jewels Torres added nine points and two steals, going 5-for-6 at the free-throw line. Chloe Irving collected five rebounds and a team-high four steals for the Phoenix.
Haverford seized control early with a 12-0 run in the first quarter, sparked by 3-pointers from Feifer and Orza off feeds from Mercer. Mercer then added six of her own from beyond the arc, prompting Wilson to use an early timeout with Haverford firmly in control. In a game the Fords led wire-to-wire, the hosts forced six turnovers in the opening period and converted them into 13 points, taking a 24-9 lead after 10 minutes.
The defensive intensity continued in the second quarter as Haverford recorded five blocks, including two from Jakway. Orza's 3-pointer at the 4:19 mark extended the margin, and Jakway added a fast-break layup with 1:25 remaining. The Fords entered halftime with a 36-14 advantage.
Haverford opened the third quarter on a 9-4 run highlighted by a Jakway layup and a Mercer 3-pointer that stretched the lead to 43-18. The lead reached 27 on Menicola's layup midway through the frame, and Orza kept the offense rolling in the fourth, scoring on a fast break and later hitting her fifth triple of the evening. Jakway added a layup with 4:11 left to push the lead back to 24. The Fords closed out the 17-point victory with steady possession and defensive pressure despite a 7-0 run from the visitors to end the contest.
Haverford now returns to action Wednesday, December 3, hosting Ursinus at 6 p.m. inside Gooding '84 Arena in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams.
