The Westminster College women's basketball team, under the guidance of 19^th-year Head Coach and the 2019-20 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach of the Year Rosanne Scott, will look to build off a season last year where the Titans won 20 games and advanced to the PAC Semifinals. The 20 wins were the most in 14 seasons for the Titans, while they earned a PAC Semifinal berth for first time in 11 seasons. Notably, the Titans earned the second most improved record in all NCAA Division III. As a team, Westminster's defense led the league in opposing field goal percentage (31.4%) and topped the PAC in defensive rebounds per game (32.0). The Titans were also second in the conference in points allowed (55.3) – the lowest amount for the program since the 2006-07 campaign.
 
"With this year's squad, the mentality of us is taking one day at a time, getting better one day at a time and embracing the opportunities that we have on that day," Scott said. "Moving forward with everything and how different this season is, we are just taking one day at a time. The team has been great. They have been focused and it's been fun. For everybody, we are grateful to be here, but we also want to get better every day and get prepared and ready for whenever our first game is going to be."
 
Junior guard Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin) and sophomore guard Camden Hergenrother (Salem, OH / Cardinal Mooney) are the returning starters for Westminster. Both Polczynski and Hergenrother have made an immediate impact as soon as stepping on the court. Polczynski, a two-year starter, scored a career-high 9.8 points per contest last season which stood third-best on the team, followed by Hergenrother averaging 9.3. The tandem tied for second on the team in steals with 43 each. Polczynski led the Titans in threes with 35 and was second on the team in assists (61) - most out of returning players. Hergenrother is the leading returner in rebounds (4.8 per game) and in assists (2.5 per game). Sophomore guard Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) also made her mark in her first year as she played in all 28 games, providing a spark off the bench. Murrio averaged 5.7 points per game, to go along with 34 steals.
 
Senior guard Ashley Russell (Vernon, PA / Belle Vernon) returns as the lone senior and brings with her a wealth of experience. She was third on team last year in made three-pointers. Junior forward Megan Meyer (New Galilee, PA / Mohawk) also brings experience with an inside-the-paint presence. Other returners include sophomores guard Chloe Jaworski (Mt. Pleasant, PA / Mt. Pleasant), forward Lindsay Bell (Youngstown, OH / Ursuline), and forward Jenna Bennett (Waterford, PA / Fort LeBoeuf). Westminster is also looking forward to seeing the impact the first-years can make.
 
"Ashley has done a great job so far, the juniors and the sophomores so far have done a great job," said Scott. "It's different from last year - we had a lot of veterans, this year we have a lot of newcomers. It's a lot more teaching and a lot more breaking down - a lot more focusing on break downs - to get the younger kids caught up and to get them into the system with what we want to accomplish this year. They've done a good job in helping each other out."
 
Westminster's home- and season-opener scheduled for Sat., Jan. 23 against Geneva was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols with a make-up date to be determined. The Titans are next scheduled to host Bethany on Sat., Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m., followed by another home Sat. game on Feb. 6 against Waynesburg (1:30 p.m.). The Titans will then play at new PAC member Franciscan on Wed., Feb. 10 for their first night game of the season with a 6 p.m. tip-off. Next, Westminster will travel to Washington & Jefferson on Sat., Feb. 13 (1 p.m.). The Titans' final home game of the regular season will be Wed., Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. versus Thiel, which will be broadcasted live on the PAC Sports Network (PACSN). Westminster closes out the season at defending PAC champion Grove City on Sat., Feb. 20 (1 p.m.), at Saint Vincent on Mon., Feb. 22 (6 p.m.) (also broadcasted on the PACSN), and at Chatham on Sat., Feb. 27 (1 p.m.).
 
"They're very excited," Scott said when asked how excited the team is to compete after the delayed start due to the pandemic. "In the fall, it was like, 'Are we going to play?' and the question "What if?" in the back of their minds. Now we are here, and it's a different mentality. It has been very competitive at practice which has been great just because we know we are playing and we are trying to get ready here. Also, just being together. This is always a fun time to be together, have some fun and that's where we have been since we have been [back on campus]."