Swannanoa, NC - The Johnson & Wales women's basketball team, currently ranked #1 in the latest USCAA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, defeated Warren Wilson 80-70 in EMAC conference play on Wednesday night. 

How It Happened:

• The two teams played a close, hard fought first half that marked the first competitive action for either team in at least three weeks.
• Neither team led by more than four points in either of the first two periods that saw JWU take a slim 34-33 lead at the break.
• The Wildcats went on a 10-2 run over the first three and half minutes of the 3rd quarter, opening up a 44-35 lead.
• JWU shot 50% from the field (10-20) in the third, and led by 14, 59-45 with ten minutes to play.
• Warren Wilson responded with their best offensive showing in the final stanza, 25 points on 9-18 shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Wildcats. .

Key Stats:

• JWU forced 27 Owl turnovers, and outrebounded Warren Wilson 44-41.
• Tanaeschia Dorsey led five Wildcats in double-figures with 18 points.
• JWU had a quartet of players score 13 points in the game: Jordan McDuffie, Jordan Durant, Jayla Lovett, and Joyiah White.
• McDuffie also grabbed 16 rebounds, and collected 6 steals.
• Lovett pulled down 7 rebounds.
• JWU improves to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in EMAC play while Warren Wilson drops to 4-8 overall and 2-1 in EMAC play.

From Coach Dunn:

"We finally got going in the second half and were able to shake off the rust after a prolonged break. Conference play is always tough, so I was glad we were able to go on the road and get a win over a solid team."

Up Next:

The Wildcats will host Clinton College on Wednesday, 1/19 at 6pm.