NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College women's basketball team lost 63-60 to Washington & Jefferson College in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action Wednesday night.
Both teams battled for the lead in the first half, as there were four ties. Westminster (5-19, 4-13 PAC) tied the game at 20 with 10:45 remaining in the first half after sophomore Rachel Durbin (Lowellville, OH / Lowellville) found first-year Paige Quinn (Pittsburgh, PA / Shaler) for a three-pointer. Washington & Jefferson (18-6, 12-5 PAC) followed with a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 30-20, with 5:22 on the clock. The Titans responded with their own 10-0 run and tied the game at 30 after Quinn found senior Jenna Grandy (Sharpsville, PA / Sharpsville) for a three with 2:23 remaining. Both teams traded layups and went into halftime tied at 32.
The Presidents started the second half strong with an 11-2 run to take a 43-34 lead with 14:09 on the clock. The Titans knotted things up at 49 after a 15-6 run with 6:52 to play. First-year Danielle Dindak (West Homestead, PA / Serra Catholic) capped off the run with a three-pointer, while Quinn picked up the assist.
Washington & Jefferson got back in front and led 60-55 with 1:28 to play. The Titans cut the Presidents' lead to 62-60 after Quinn found Durbin for a three with 30 seconds left.
Westminster forced a turnover on W&J's next possession and had a chance to take the lead, but a three-pointer came up short with 20 seconds on the clock. The Titans had another opportunity, this time to force overtime, after the Presidents split a pair of free throws, but a desperation three-pointer hit the rim as the clock expired.
Senior Allison Borts (Youngstown, OH / Boardman) and Quinn led Westminster with 12 points each. The point total marked Quinn's career high. Quinn also had a game- and career-high seven assists. First-year Kristine Fromknecht (Erie, PA / McDowell) registered a team- and career-high 11 rebounds. Durbin and Grandy scored nine and eight points, respectively. Dindak added seven points, while classmate Kylie Cook (Pittsburgh, PA / Mount Lebanon) tallied six points and nine rebounds.
For the game, W&J out-shot Westminster 37.9% (25-66) to 31.1% (19-61). The Titans out-rebounded the Presidents' 47-40.
The Titans will play at Geneva College on Saturday for its final regular season game. Tip-off is set for 5:30 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 Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 379 Colleges" 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.
