BETHANY, W. Va. - January 31, 2022 - Chatham Women's Basketball traveled to Bethany College this evening for their first matchup against the Bison this season. Despite the game getting close at points and the Cougars trailing several times, a strong fourth quarter would lead Chatham to a 55-46 victory.
Graduate student Julianna Skowron would once again get the Cougar offense started, joined shortly after by classmate Maddy Grennes. The only other points of the quarter would come from Junior Sierra McClain and first-year Emily Durkee, both of whom hit threes to give the Cougars nine points.
Graduate student Brittani Smith would join the three spree early in the second to get the Cougars back within two point contention of the Bison. After several scoreless minutes for both teams, senior Aliyah Labriola would come in with a layup to tie the game, followed by two three-pointers by junior Riley D'Angelo to put the Cougars up 20-14. Skowron and Smith would both contribute two more points each before the half ran out.
Up 24-21 heading into the third, first-year Aurielle Brunner would get her first points of the night to explain the lead to five. She would make another layup along with McClain, then both McClain and Grennes would go two-for-two at the charity stripe to give the Cougars a 13-point lead. Unfortunately, the Bison would mount a comeback, tying the game at 36 by the end of the quarter.
The Cougars got to work right away in the final ten, starting with points from D'Angelo, Skowron, McClain, and Smith once more. A late three from D'Angelo would put the Bison past the point of return, causing them to commit fouls that would allow Emily Durkee to expand the lead all the way to nine.
Riley D'Angelo was the points leader of the game with 12, followed by Sierra McClain with ten. Julianna Skowron and Maddy Grennes would both collect a game-high nine rebounds. Emily Durkee would earn a team-high four assists.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 13-4 overall and 7-3 in conference. Chatham returns home on Wednesday, February 2nd for a 5:30 matchup against Westminster.
