Late Scoring Run Helps W&J Top Thiel
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- A 10-0 Washington & Jefferson College run with under three minutes to play helped the Presidents push past Thiel for a 73-67 Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s basketball victory on Saturday at the Henry Memorial Center.
W&J (13-6, 8-4) trailed 60-59, but reeled off 10-straight points to move in front 69-60 with 1:33 to play. Junior forward Chelsea Apke (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) got the surge started with a jumper and followed with a three-point play. Classmate Alexa Burzese (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) added a three-pointer and sophomore Alex DelGreco (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) capped the run with a pair of free throws.
The Presidents secured the victory by making all four of their free throw attempts during the final minute.
Thiel (5-14, 4-8) got off to a hot start behind Kelly Muffley and Kelly Barzak. The duo combined to score the Tomcats’ first 20 points as TC ran out to a six-point lead.
The Presidents stormed back with 14 of the final 16 points during the half to grab a 33-28 halftime advantage.
Muffley kept the game within reach for the Tomcats with 13 points after halftime and put TC in front with a late triple, but Apke had the answer for W&J as she started the game-deciding surge with two of her 17 second-half points.
Apke posted a team-high 21 points along with nine rebounds, while Burzese tallied nine points, five assists and three boards. Sophomore center Valerie Dunlap (Hostetter, Pa./Latrobe) recorded 17 points and seven rebounds and senior guard Emily Abraham (Canfield, Ohio/Boardman) added 13 points for the Presidents, who shot 41 percent (27-65) from the field.
W&J recorded 20 assists on 27 baskets and outrebounded the Tomcats 36-29.
Muffley led all scorers with 25 points (9-16 FG) and pulled in eight rebounds, while Barzak added 18 points and seven boards.
The Presidents are back on the road on Wednesday when they visit local-rival Waynesburg at 5:30 pm. The Yellow Jackets posted a 71-57 victory over W&J earlier this season in Washington.
