NEW WILMINGTON - The Westminster College women's basketball team hung tough with unbeaten Thomas More at home Saturday afternoon, but the Titans could not finish against the No. 5 ranked team in the nation, losing 69-56 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.
The Titans (11-8, 4-5 PAC) held two one-point leads in the second half after trailing 30-25 at halftime. Junior guard Gina Brunetti (Canfield, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) hit a 3-pointer to put the Titans up 46-45 with 10:38 remaining. The Titans later trailed by one with 9:32 to go before the Saints (19-0, 10-0 PAC) went on a 14-4 run to take an 11-point 63-52 lead with 3:26 left.
During the stretch, Thomas More hit three 3-pointers, as the Saints shot 39.3 percent (24-61) from the floor and 41.2 percent (7-17) from 3-point range. Westminster shot 44.2 percent (19-43) from the floor.
Westminster senior guard/forward Emilee Ackerman (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) led all scorers and rebounders with 17 points and 10 boards. Brunetti also scored in double figures with 14 points and seven rebounds for the Titans. Both players also led Westminster with three assists apiece.
Thomas More had four players scoring in double figures, led by Tandrea Sellers with 15 points, followed by Gabby Johnson with 13, Nicole Dickman with 12 and Jayme Thiem with 11.
Westminster returns to action at Washington & Jefferson Wednesday, Feb. 6, for an 8 p.m. tip-off.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked 15th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly 2007 Annual College Guide. Westminster is a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 366 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."
Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.
