PITTSBURGH, Pa. - January 27, 2024 - Chatham Women's Basketball (17-3, 13-2) used stifling defense to defeat the Franciscan Lady Barons (4-16, 2-13) by the score of 85-41 on Saturday at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The Cougars allowed a season-low 41 points and forced 34 turnovers.

Graduate guard Kaitlyn Fertig led the team in scoring with 14 points in 17 minutes on 5-13 shooting and four rebounds. Sophomore forward Alyssa Laukus tallied 13 points on 6-10 shooting, seven rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore guard Hannah Chenault knocked down three triples on her way to 13 points in 13 minutes. Junior forward Samantha Hardy scored 11 points with five rebounds and matched her career high with three blocks to lead the game.

The Cougars ran away with it from the very start, scoring the first 17 points of the game on their way to a 23-5 advantage after the opening quarter. Chatham's defense held the Lady Barons to 2-10 from the field and forced nine turnovers in the opening frame. The second quarter started with another Cougar run of 12-0, but a 15-5 response from the Lady Barons brought the 30-point Chatham lead down to 20 before a steal and breakaway layup from junior guard Aurielle Brunner closed the half. In the third quarter, the Cougars scored another 19 points, including 13 straight over a five-plus minute stretch, and allowed just seven points thanks to another nine Franciscan turnovers. The fourth quarter began with a 22-2 Cougar run that would give them their largest lead of the day at 54 points.

Chatham shot 41.1% (30-73) from the floor, 29.2% (7-24) from deep and 72% (18-25) from the free-throw line, while the Lady Barons were held to 31% (18-58) from the floor and 8.3% (1-12) from deep. 14 different Cougars found the bottom of the net and the Cougars pulled down 50 rebounds, which is their second-most in a game this year.

Women's Basketball will return to action Wednesday evening when they take on the Thiel Tomcats in Greenville.