NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - In a game between the two teams tied for first place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), the Westminster College women's basketball team lost at home against No. 9 Thomas More, 78-55, on Saturday at the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.

Thomas More, ranked No. 9 in the USA Today/ESPN Division III Coaches' Poll, improves to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the league. Westminster drops to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the league.

The Titans trailed by one point, 35-34, in the opening seconds of the second half when freshman guard Jenn Cantella (Freedom, Pa./Freedom) knocked down a 3-pointer.

Cantella made her first career start in place of injured guard Amy Dolsak (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald), the PAC's third-leading scorer with 13.4 points per game, who did not play for Westminster. Cantella tied a career high with 14 points to lead the Titans, including 5-9 shooting from the field and 4-5 shooting from 3-point range. 

Sophomore guard Krista Bittengle (McMechen, W.Va./Bishop Donahue) came off the bench and scored a career-high nine points for Westminster, while freshman forward Sam Higgins (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) bucketed eight points to go with a team-high six rebounds.

After Cantella cut the deficit to one point, the Saints then went on a 13-3 run to take a 53-40 lead with 13:44 to go in the game.

Thomas More took its largest lead of 26 points at 69-43 with 5:44 remaining before cruising to the 23-point victory.

Nicole Dickman led the Saints with 16 points, six rebounds, four blocks and four steals. Chelsea Tolliver and Amy Stultz also bucketed 11 points apiece for the Saints.

Thomas More shot 50.9 percent (28-55) from the field compared to Westminster at 41.1 percent (23-56). Westminster held a 39-32 rebound advantage, but committed 28 turnovers to TMC's 19.

Westminster is off until it plays at Wooster in non-conference game on Dec. 30 beginning at 2:30 p.m.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges. Westminster ranked third among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

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. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.