Box Score

GREENVILLE, Pa. – Kelly Muffley (Salsburg, Pa./Western Reserve Academy) went just 3-of-10 from the field in Saturday's wire-to-wire 76-66 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory over visiting Washington & Jefferson College, but her 14-of-15 effort at the free throw line marked one of the top success rates at the charity stripe in program history. 

With the 10-point win Thiel (1-6, 1-1) notched back-to-back wins over W&J (3-3, 1-1) for the first time since winning the second game of the season series in 1998-1999 and the opener between the two squads in 1999-2000. 

Muffley's career day at the free throw line tied her with Nicole Valentino and Adrienne Mowry for second on program's single game free throws made list; Valentino went 14-of-15 vs. Waynesburg University on Feb. 3, 2007 while Mowry was a perfect 14-of-14 vs. D'Youville College on Nov. 30, 2003. Tricia Kocenina is the program's single game free throws made leader, finishing 15-of-17 from the line in a 91-89 win at Bethany College on Jan. 28, 1992.

Led by Muffley's 22 point effort the Tomcats finished with three players in double figures. Ashley Davis (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) finished with 16 points and eight rebounds while Kelly Barzak (Warren, OH/Howland) posted her third double-double of the season, going for 14 points and 10 rebounds. Rianne Thornton (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) added nine points, a career-high 11 rebounds, and three assists in the win.

Thiel seized a 48-31 edge in rebounding, including a 16-9 advantage on the offense glass, and outscored W&J 33-20 at the free throw line.

Ashley Kirkpatrick finished with a game-high 25 points and nine rebounds for the visiting Presidents. Vanessa Rivera added 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in the loss.

The start of the opening half was tightly contested with the homestanding Tomcats unable to secure a significant lead. W&J was able to trim Thiel's lead to just one, 20-19, at the 9:20 mark of the first but the Tomcats put together a 14-4 run that covered the ensuing 5:31 to up their lead to 11, 34-23. The Presidents went 4-of-4 from the line in the final minute of action to trail by just seven, 36-29, going into the half.

The Tomcats stretched their second half lead to as many as 13 with just over 10 minutes remaining, but the Presidents, fueled by a 13-4 run, cut the lead down to just three, 58-55, with 6:25 to play.

Muffley went 7-of-7 from line down the stretch to help the Tomcats secure their first victory of the season.

Thiel returns to PAC action on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Westminster College. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.