WASHINGTON, Pa. – A late second half jumper by Chelsea Apke secured a 76-73 Presidents' Athletic Conference win for the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team over visiting Westminster at the Henry Memorial Center on Saturday.
Apke's jumper with 14 seconds remaining put the Presidents (12-5, 7-3 PAC) ahead by three and the W&J defense held the Titans (9-8, 6-4 PAC) without a three-point attempt for the tie as time expired. Apke finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field.
Sophomore Beka Bellhy and senior Kara Seamon also finished in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Seamon also finished with a game-best six assists. Junior Alexa DelGreco hit 2-of-3 from the three-point line and stretches her streak of at least one successful three-pointer to seven games.
It was the tale of two halves for the Presidents, as the team took a 42-28 lead into halftime. Collectively, W&J shot 93 percent from the free throw line in the first half.
The Presidents were able to maintain a double-digit lead well into the start of the second half, until Westminster's Courtney Zitt sunk a three-pointer at 13:32 to cut the W&J advantage to eight points.
The two teams continued to trade baskets and W&J managed to regain a comfortable lead with just over six minutes remaining. A good three-point attempt from senior Alexa Burzese stretched the Presidents' lead back to 13.
The Titans chipped away at the deficit, getting five points from Zitt during their comeback run. With 1:17 left in the game, a jumper by WC's Courtney Klein drew the Titans deficit to 74-71. As the clock ticked to under a minute to play, a foul on the home team sent Westminster guard Hannah Shaffer to the free throw line. Shaffer hit both foul shots to bring her team to within one.
Successful clock management by the Presidents' offense took time off the clock and allowed Apke to secure the win with her late two-point jump shot, despite being outscored 45-34 in the second half.
The Titans finished the game with eight blocks, while W&J edged its opposition in rebounds 39-37. Between both teams, 27 turnovers were committed and 37 points were converted off those turnovers.
Washington & Jefferson continues its four-game homestand this Wednesday (Jan. 29) as it welcomes Saint Vincent to the Henry Memorial Center at 8:00 pm.
