NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster women's basketball team won, 71-65, at home against Grove City in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game, Thursday night.
The first quarter was highlighted by a 9-0 run by Westminster (9-5, 6-2 PAC), capped off by a layup from junior
Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) off a dish from classmate
Camden Hergenrother. (Salem, OH / Cardinal Mooney). The Titans held a 19-16 lead at the end of the first. Westminster orchestrated another run (8-0) in the second quarter to take a nine-point lead (27-18). At intermission, the Titans led 29-24.
In the fourth quarter, the Titans executed a 10-3 run, capturing a double-digit lead (71-59). Westminster held Grove City (7-6, 4-3 PAC) at bay to secure the victory.
"The key for us today was boxing out and transition defense," said Head Coach
Rosanne Scott. "We did fight, when we needed it, to get those rebounds. Transition defense, I thought they did a great job containing them because they like to play fast. I told the girls at the beginning of the game we are going to turn it over on the press. It's the next play mentality with them that we have to be focused."
The Titans were led by Murrio, who registered a career-high 33 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Senior
Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin) recorded 16 points, five boards, two steals, and one assist. Sophomore
Mariah Vincent (Franklin, PA / Kennedy Catholic) chipped in with a career-best six points, going 2-2 from the three-point line (a career-high). Junior
Lindsay Bell (Youngstown, OH / Ursuline) notched six points and a game-best 10 rebounds.
"I think everyone really stepped up and hit some big shots to keep the lead", Murrio added, "We wanted to win it for Magen (Polcynski) because it's her senior night. Everyone's momentum and adrenaline was up to begin with. We just kept rolling with that and it worked out in our favor."
Westminster's next game is scheduled for Saturday, January 22 as it travels to Washington, Pa. to compete against Washington & Jefferson in a PAC contest. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. No external fans are allowed to attend, per Washington & Jefferson's Covid-19 protocols.
