ELKINS, W. Va. - Powered by four players in double figures and a strong defensive effort down the stretch, Davis & Elkins women's basketball earned its first victory of the season with a 68-59 home triumph on Wednesday evening against Wheeling inside the McDonnell Center.

Jamiyah Johnson was a force inside once again, recording 14 points and 16 rebounds in the victory. She was joined by Jay Kilpatrick and Jessica Eadsforth-Yates, who each added 14 points to their credit in the balanced offensive output. Rachel Bolyard posted 10 points for her first career double digit scoring game, adding a pair of steals in 21 minutes off the bench.

Wheeling was held scoreless over the final 2:54 of the fourth quarter, but trimmed the D&E lead to three with just under three minutes remaining. Lilly Ritz continued her strong season with 20 points and nine rebounds in 39 minutes of action. Tallish Cashwell cashed in for nine points and a pair of boards, while Emily Holzopfel added eight points off the bench.

D&E took control in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, outscoring Wheeling 19-8 over the final 10 minutes.

THE RUNDOWN

• Davis & Elkins (1-6, 1-2 MEC) - 68
• Wheeling (1-5, 0-3 MEC) - 59
• The McDonnell Center - Elkins, W. Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Eadsforth-Yates buried a three to cap a quick 9-4 run to open the game, but Wheeling responded with buckets on its next four trips down the floor for a 12-9 lead. Peyton Mohler stepped into a try ball off a kickoff from Johnson to hand the edge back to the Senators at 14-12.
• Bolyard beat the buzzer, releasing a shot from the paint with less than one second left in the first quarter for a 21-17 edge. Johnson found a rhythm offensively, opening the second period with layups at 9:40 and 8:35 for a six-point edge. Tailed Silver dropped in a layup for a one-point lead at 27-26, marking the last lead the Senators would have in the first half. Off a miss, Wheeling raced up the floor and converted the layup for a 39-36 edge with just over one minute left in the second, and that score would hold up going into the intermission.
• Kilpatrick sliced the Cardinals lead to just two with a jumper at 7:51 and later to one point on a three off a Reagan Sharp outlet pass at 5:46. Allie Taylor put the Senators in front 44-43, racing down the floor to break the Cardinals full court pressure. Eadsforth-Yates gathered the ball back and stepped beyond the arc for a three with time expiring in the third, tying the contest up at 50.
• The Senators opened the final frame with an 8-2 surge, with contributions coming throughout the lineup. Sydney Nestor began the frame with a three, followed by a good jumper from Bolyard and capped by a hoop and harm from Eadsforth-Yates at 6:51 for a 58-52 edge.
• A Kelsi Champman three trimmed the D&E lead to one at 6:26, but Kilpatrick responded for the Senators with a bucket at 6:06 and another at 3:25 to end a turnover-filled couple of minutes.
• Johnson made a layup for a five point edge at 2:23 and the Senators held on with some solid shooting at the foul line to close the contest out.

GAME NOTES

• Johnson hauled in 16 boards for the third time this season, recording her fourth double-double in the process.
• After starting the year with three consecutive games in double figures, Kilpatrick got back on track with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
• Eadsforth-Yates canned a season-high three three pointers for the second consecutive contest, tying her season high scoring output on Wednesday night.
• Bolyard tied a season-high 21 minutes against the Cardinals, converting 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting. She has posted at least eight points in each of the last three games.
• The Senators outscored the Cardinals 32-20 in the second half, pulling ahead for good with a 19-8 fourth quarter.
• D&E shot 46.2% from the floor in the final frame, while also locking things down on defense and limiting Wheeling to 20% shooting from the field over the final 10 minutes.
• Jason Asbell picks up his 132nd victory at the helm of the Senator women's basketball program.

UP NEXT

• Davis & Elkins stays home on Saturday, December 7 for a conference matchup with West Liberty beginning at 2:00 PM from the McDonnell Center.