The Elizabethtown Blue Jays women’s basketball team took on the Rowan University Profs in their regular season home opener to kick off their 2025-26 campaign. The Blue Jays, coming off a NCAA tournament appearance last season, finished 23-5, hoping to return to form heading into this season being ranked #22 in Division III.
After losing former seniors Summer McNulty, DaniRae Renno and Jess King, among others, the Blue Jays hoped to bounce back with their upcoming seniors and a large sophomore class to push Etown back into the spotlight in the Landmark Conference. Rowan had also lost a few seniors heading into the contest, hoping to rally and take a key road victory to open up the season.
As the game tipped off and the stands were crowded with Blue Jay and Prof fans, the women’s college basketball season had begun for the two teams. Etown started the game off strong, beginning on a 7-0 run including a three from senior guard Ella Gordon and four points from junior Kamryn Mengel.
The Blue Jays continued to pour on the offensive pressure, pushing their lead into double digits after senior forward Allyia Kennedy was able to convert an and-one after battling through contact inside the paint. Kennedy and senior guard Makenna Mummert were able to block a shot each as the Profs tried to penetrate the heavily guarded paint, as the Blue Jay defense brought momentum which drove the offense into finding more opportunities. After a late surge by Rowan, the Blue Jays ended the first quarter up by six.
Etown continued to add on to the lead that they had created, as both Mummert and Kennedy were able to convert a pair of and-ones to increase the lead to 13. Despite a few threes and layups from Rowan, the Blue Jays held the lead. Mengel added four points to end the quarter as the Blue Jays headed into the halftime break with a 12-point 36-24 lead.
Although they were being outrebounded on the offensive side of the floor, Etown held their composure and showed flashes of what this young roster could do, as sophomores Kiley Wilhelm and Cadence Anderson had multiple buckets en route to their halftime lead.
Rowan came out of the halftime break looking to eliminate the deficit they were put into, and they were able to find some success as the double digit lead was cut down to six as the Profs went on a 9-3 run to begin the quarter. The lead was cut down to as little as five before the Etown offence began to roar to life as Mengel’s eight points in the final four minutes of the third helped the Blue Jays spark a 10-2 run to end the third quarter.
Rowan had one final opportunity in the fourth quarter and they used all ten minutes to their advantage, withering away the 13-point lead that Etown had at the end of three quarters. Led by three layups and a pair of free throws, the Profs went on a 8-0 run, eliminating most of the deficit and trailing the Blue Jays by only two with 12 seconds to go in regulation. After a few fouls and Gordon draining three free throws to give Etown a three point lead, the last second three-point attempt rattled off the rim as the Blue Jays survived the offensive surge by Rowan, winning 58-55.
Mengel led the team in scoring with 21 points on 8-17 shooting from the floor. Gordon hit the lone three for the Blue Jays, tying Kennedy and Wilhelm with eight points in the contest. Anderson off the bench contributed six points and four rebounds on 50% shooting.
The Blue Jays will play their next home contest against their Landmark opponent in Susquehanna University on Nov. 22.
