(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson capped its four-game home stand by holding off a pesky Eastern Mennonite squad on Saturday to give the Phoenix their best start in 25 years. Five Phoenix scored in double-figures with
Leah Laubach (So., Marietta, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) leading the way with 21 points while
Chelcie Forrester (Sr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) recorded her fourth double-double of the season.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 87, Eastern Mennonite 78
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 4-2, 0-0 United East; Eastern Mennonite 3-4, 0-0 ODAC
How It Happened
- It was a hot start for the Phoenix as they jumped out to a 13-3 lead to open the game. Kailee Soto (So., Lancaster, Pa. / Columbia) led off the contest with a 3-pointer and was followed by a rebound and putback by Forrester. Laubach then caught fire with the next six Phoenix points before Lae Black (Sr., Laurel, Md. / Meade / Bluefield State) put the home team up 13-3 with a layup. The Royals didn't go away quietly and soon made a run of their own and closed the frame on a 10-4 run.
- That momentum fed into the second quarter for the visitors who started to make 3-point shots by way of Grace Burke. Her first 3-pointer put the Royals in front 24-22 and her second capped a 10-0 run to give EMU at 29-22 advantage. After a timeout, the Phoenix were able to regroup and regain control with an 20-4 run. Chloe Irving (So., Martinsburg, W.Va. / Martinsburg) sparked the push with a layup. Forrester brought Wilson back within one with back-to-back layups, and after a bucket by Eastern Mennonite, Laubach answered with an old-fashioned 3-point play after she was fouled on an inside jumper to tie the game at 33. The Phoenix scored the next nine points before a 3-point shootout took place with Soto draining one between a pair from Burke to make it a 45-39 score at the halftime break.
- Jewels Torres (Sr., York, Pa. West York) opened the third with a fast break jumper after a Soto steal which led to an assist by Laubach. Wilson then received six points from Black on a pair of 3-point plays, one from behind the arc and another after she was fouled on a layup, to go up 52-39. Burke helped the Royals get as close as seven thanks to 3-point shooting, but Wilson largely held a double-digit lead the rest of the way en route to the win.
Inside The Numbers
- Laubach finished a strong Saturday afternoon with 21 points after she went 8-for-15 from the field with six rebounds and six assists.
- Soto and Black each added 14 points and four rebounds. Soto did most of her damage from downtown with four 3-pointers. She added four steals to her stat line as well. Black added a 3-pointer and made two steals.
- Forrester remained a force underneath with 13 points. She was 6-for-12 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 at the foul line. Her 16 rebounds led all players and were two shy of her career best.
- Irving sparked the Phoenix off the bench with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
- Torres added seven points and set up plenty of other points with seven assists.
- Burke led all players with 26 points for the Royals. She was 7-for-16 with all attempts coming from range. She added eight rebounds.
- Wilson dominated the glass with a 52-29 edge in rebounds. It's the fourth time this season the Phoenix have pulled in at least 50.
- Second-chance points were beneficial for the Wilson Blue and White as they added 24 markers on extra possessions compared to nine for the Royals.
- Wilson evens the series with Eastern Mennonite with each team winning twice. The Phoenix won in 2021 while Royals won games in 2022 and 2024.
- The last time Wilson started off 4-2 was the 2000-01 season. That year the Phoenix started off 5-2 with wins against Trinity Washington, Valley Forge, Immaculata, Notre Dame, and Lancaster Bible.
Up Next
Wilson will take on Haverford College. It will be just the second road game for the Phoenix. The two will tipoff at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
