BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - The Westminster College women's basketball team nearly came back from a 16-point deficit in the final 5:30 at Geneva on Wednesday night, but the Titans came up short, 67-65, in the non-conference game.
The Titans' record falls to 6-9 on the season while the Golden Tornadoes, a provisional member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference whose games do not count toward the league standings, improve to 8-7 on the year.
Westminster had three players score at least 16 points, led by junior guard Amy Dolsak (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Dolsak's double figures in points and rebounds give her six "double-doubles" this season.
Dolsak's younger sister, freshman forward Emily Dolsak (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald), scored a career-high 16 points for the third time this season. Emily Dolsak also snared eight rebounds.
Senior guard Gina Brunetti (Canfield, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) bucketed 16 points on 6-13 shooting from the field including 4-5 from 3-point range.
Brunetti and sophomore point guard Kaitlin McCarthy (Lowellville, Ohio/Lowellville) scored the game's last two field goals in the final 11 seconds. After Geneva sank two free throws to go up 67-61, McCarthy bucketed two of her six points in the game with a jumper then posted her third steal which set up Brunetti's jumper just before the buzzer that made the final score 67-65.
Westminster outscored Geneva 18-4 in the final 5:30 after the Golden Tornadoes led 63-47. Geneva also led by 22 points (36-14) before holding a 38-20 halftime lead. Westminster closed the gap to eight points early in the second half but the GTs went back up by 20 (59-39) at the 8:37 mark before Westminster's final comeback attempt.
Four Geneva players scored in double figures, including Michawn Rich with 17 points with nine rebounds. Liz DePietro also bucketed 14 points, Beth DeLuca 13, and Rachel Barry 11.
Both couldn't take care of the ball with Westminster committing 21 turnovers to Geneva's 20. Westminster shot 46.4 percent (26-56) from the field including 46.7 percent (7-15) from 3-point range. Geneva shot 43.6 percent (24-55) from the field and 43.5 percent (10-23) from behind the arc.
The Titans return home to host Saint Vincent Saturday at 2 p.m.
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 368 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.
