Box Score WOOSTER, Ohio – The Westminster women's basketball team won, 69-66, against Carnegie Mellon on the road in the first day of The Tip-off at The College of Wooster on Saturday.
With less than three seconds to go, down 69-66, Carnegie Mellon's (1-2) three-point attempt did not register as Westminster (2-0) sealed the win with a stifling defensive possession.
The Titans jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with 7:37 left in the first quarter. While ahead 13-12, the Titans extended their lead to nine by connecting on two consecutive three-pointers and a mid-range jumper (21-12) with 1:17 left in the first. Westminster came out strong in the second to extend its lead to double digits (28-14), first a three-pointer from junior
Camden Hergenrother (Salem, OH / Cardinal Mooney) and then a layup from senior
Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin). As the Titans were in the driver's seat up, 28-16, they proceeded to score six straight points (34-16) to gain even more control. Westminster carried the momentum to hold a 36-24 at intermission.
Carnegie Mellon fought back to cut the Titan lead to single digits (40-31) as Carnegie Mellon's Leah Weslock knocked down two free throws. Down 48-39, the Tartans scored nine of the next 11 points to make it 50-48. With less than five seconds left in the third, Polczynski grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the put-back layup beating the buzzer (52-48). As the fourth quarter started, the back-and-fourth slugfest continued as neither team could pull away. Later on, Hergenrother notched two made free throws coming out of a Titan timeout (68-64). Caitlyn Clendenin of Carnegie Mellon answered by making a clutch layup (68-66). Hergenrother registered another free throw making 69-66 with five seconds later.
Polczynski registered a game- and career-high with 24 points to go along with two steals, two assists, and six rebounds, followed by junior
Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) tallied 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists. This marks the second time in her career that Murrio has scored 20+ points in consecutive games. Hergenrother recorded 15 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one steal.
Westminster shot 40.4% (23-57) from the field, 72.7% (16-22) from the charity stripe, and 31.8% (7-22) from beyond the arc.
The Titans are back in action Sunday, November 21 as they compete against Hanover College in the final day of The College of Wooster Tip-Off. Start time is 12 p.m.
