BETHANY, W.Va. - The seventh-seeded Westminster College women's basketball team won 77-65 at the sixth-seeded Bethany College in the opening round of the 2014-15 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament on Monday.
There were three ties and four lead changes in the first seven minutes of the game. Bethany (12-14)Â went on an 11-4 run to take a 22-16 lead with 8:16 on the clock. The Titans responded with a 7-0 run to take a 23-22 lead after first-year Paige Quinn (Pittsburgh, PA / Shaler) scored a layup with six minutes remaining. The final minutes consisted of four more lead changes, including the final one when senior Jenna Grandy (Sharpsville, PA / Sharpsville) drained a three-pointer as time expired to give the Titans a 30-27 lead at halftime. Sophomore Shelby Brown (New Castle, PA / Mohawk) picked up the assist.
The Titans were in front for the first 10 minutes of the second half and led by as much as six points (47-41) with 11:44 on the clock. The Bison orchestrated a 9-2 run to take a 50-49 lead with 9:12 on the clock. Westminster quickly responded with a 12-4 run, capped off by another three by Grandy, to take a commanding 61-54 lead with 5:54 remaining. The Bison got within five points (63-58) of the Titans' lead but that would be the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.
Titan sophomore Rachel Durbin (Lowellville, OH / Lowellville) led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed down a game-high 11 rebounds for her second career double-double. She also dished-out a team-high four assists. Senior Allison Borts (Youngstown, OH / Boardman) scored 17 points to go along with nine rebounds. First-year Kristine Fromknecht (Erie, PA / McDowell) registered 15 points, while Grandy added 14 points.
Westminster (7-19) advances to the Quarterfinals of the PAC Championship Tournament to face the number-three seeded Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 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.
