PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Chatham Women's Basketball (11-4, 4-3 PAC) had a huge first quarter and never looked back on Wednesday evening, collecting back-to back 30-point victories with a 76-46 rout of Franciscan (3-13, 0-7).
 
Senior Madison Nereu recorded her third consecutive double-double with 19 points on 6-9 shooting and 10 rebounds along with a game-high 5 assists and 3 steals. Senior Alyssa Laukus tallied 14 points for the Cougars while shooting 7-12, adding 5 steals, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Senior Hannah Chenault also scored14 points, going 4-4 from the free throw line and knocking down 2 three-point baskets. Senior Maria Barela netted 5 points with a couple of assists and 4 steals, and graduate student Jordyn Jensen contributed 2 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals for Chatham.
 
The Barons never led in the game, trailing 13-10 six minutes into the contest. The Cougars put the game away in the opening quarter, using a 15-2 run via 9 points from Chenault to take a 28-12 advantage into the second quarter. Julia Calvin's triple put Chatham up 43-19, and the Cougars would head to the locker room with a 23-point lead.
 
Chatham began the second half with an 11-0 run fueled by 4 Laukus points and another Chenault three-pointer. The Cougars scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter as well, leading 62-31 after a three-point basket from Hannah Stephanites. Giavonna Richter also connected from deep, giving Chatham a 30-point advantage, which would be its eventual winning margin.
 
The Cougars shot 43.1 percent for the game (18-65). Franciscan Franciscan's 31 percent shooting (18-58) was the lowest by a Chatham opponent in 10 games. The Cougars' 18 steals were their second-most of the campaign.
 
Women's Basketball heads to Hiram on Saturday for a 1 p.m. PAC matchup.