ERIE, Pa. - The Westminster College women's basketball team won the Penn State Behrend Tip-Off Tournament with a 58-56 win over host Penn State Behrend Sunday. The Titans improve to 2-1 after winning both games of the tournament by a combined three points. Behrend falls to 1-1.
The Titans held on after leading by 13 points in the second half. Behrend missed a jumper with three seconds remaining before senior guard Kaitlin McCarthy (Lowellville, Ohio/Lowellville) secured the rebound.
McCarthy was named MVP of the tournament and junior forward Emily Dolsak (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) was named to the all-tournament team.
Dolsak led the Titans with 17 points on 7-12 shooting from the field in the championship game, while also pulling down eight rebounds.
Sophomore forward Katie Hughes (Boardman, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) posted her second career double-double for the Titans with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Andi Ridge (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Starpoint) was the third Titan to score in double figures as she bucketed 10 to go with six rebounds.
McCarthy, who posted seven points and nine rebounds, dished out a team-high four assists. McCarthy led the Titans with 16 points in Saturday's 66-65 win over Otterbein.
The Titans held a gaping 51-28 rebounding advantage over Behrend, while shooting 41.7 percent (25-60) to the Lions' 32.1 percent (21-56). Behrend held a 23-13 turnover advantage.
Three players scored in double figures for the Lions led by Aly Eagle with 18 points. Holly Bourquin bucketed 11 to go with seven rebounds, while Amy Oldach sank 10 points.
Behrend's largest lead was only three points before the teams were tied 25-25 at halftime. After a 29-29 tie early in the second half, the Titans then went on a 12-0 run to take a 41-29 lead with 13:17 remaining.
Westminster's largest lead was 13 at 46-33 with 11:40 remaining. The Lions whittled that lead down to as little as two points with 1:06 remaining before the Titans held them off.
The Titans return to action at La Roche Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college, a national leader in graduation rate performance, and a "Great School, Great Price," according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 38th among liberal arts colleges, 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 373 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.
