NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The two-seeded Westminster women's basketball team advanced to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship after defeating three-seeded Grove City, 75-62, at home in the PAC Semifinals Thursday night.
"Our defense really came out and held them in transition points," said head coach
Rosanne Scott. "I am just so proud of them. I told them before this game you guys deserve to be here. You worked to get here and now they have an opportunity to win a championship. This is a special team and I have been saying that all year. They have been a joy to be around and coach, I am happy for them."
After Grove City (17-9, 13-5 PAC) conducted a 9-2 run to start the fourth quarter, Westminster (18-8, 13-5 PAC) held a 56-54 lead with 7:24 left in the game. The Titans halted the Wolverines' momentum by finishing the game on a 19-8 run, completed by a junior
Camden Hergenrother (Salem, OH / Cardinal Mooney) free throw. The Titan defense stood strong, only allowing four points in the last two minutes, advancing to their first PAC Championship since the 2009-10 season.
"We talked about taking care of the ball and staying composed in the press," said Hergenrother. "We knew we had to carry over our defense into the second half because that was our key to victory tonight."
In the first quarter, Westminster jumped out to an early 14-5 lead after a junior
Lindsay Bell (Youngstown, OH / Ursuline) jumper off a dish from Hergenrother. At intermission, the Titans led 42-31.
Junior
Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) led Westminster with game-highs of 20 points and three blocks to go with five assists. Hergenrother, Bell, and senior
Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin) each registered 13 points. Hergenrother added a game-best six assists, while Bell recorded a career-best 19 boards. First-year
Mackenzie Powell (Harrison City, PA / Penn-Trafford) chipped in with 10 points, four assists, and two rebounds.
"We all had different roles and understanding our roles is something Coach Scott preached," said Bell. "Mine happens to be rebounding and tonight, I did that for my teammates. I wanted to get this win however I could and rebounding was the way."
"We are ready to win a PAC Championship," said Murrio. "We've been knocked out the last two years in the semifinals. We are ready and wanted to get over that hump to go win a Championship."
"I think all of us want to win, not just for ourselves but everyone that has come before us," said Polczynski. "It has been such a long ride and it is hard being the only senior but it feels so good to be with my best friends."
The Titans will play top-seeded Washington & Jefferson for the PAC Championship game on Feb. 26 in Washington, Pa. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m.
