NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- For a second time this week, the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team suffered a tough last second defeat. Despite a career-high 21 points from junior Hannah Johnston (East Freedom, Pa./Central), the Presidents fell by a 72-69 score at Westminster College Saturday in Presidents' Athletic Conference play.

Johnston tallied 21 points on four field goals (two three-pointers) and 11-of-14 free throws. The junior added five rebounds and four steals in the loss.

Alie Seto (Allison, Pa./Brownsville) recorded 12 points and seven rebounds, while Lauren Gilbert (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and Maria Lawhorne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) registered 10 points apiece.
After a slow start, the Presidents used seven first quarter points by Seto to take a 16-12 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Back-to-back three-point field goals by Aleena McDaniel (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) and Seto extended the W&J lead to 22-12 in the early stages of the second frame. A few minutes later, Piper Morningstar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) drained a three-point basket to push the lead back to double digits at 27-17 with 6:27 remaining in the half.

Westminster would slowly work into that lead, using a 14-4 run over the next six minutes to tie the score at 31-31 with 56 seconds left in the half. Back-to-back treys by Ashley Russell evened the score for the Titans.

Johnston converted three-of-four free throw attempts in the final minute to give the Presidents a 34-31 halftime lead.

The Titans opened the third quarter with a quick three-point field goal to tie the score at 34-34. However, the Presidents countered with five consecutive points, as the Red and Black took a 39-34 advantage after a free throw by Johnston. Westminster then used a 7-2 spurt to take a 43-41 lead midway through the third quarter.

W&J countered with a basket by Lawhorne and a three-point make from Johnston to take a 46-43 edge at the 4:20 mark. The two teams continued to go back and forth before the score was evened at 51-51 entering the fourth quarter.

The Presidents had to play almost the entirety of the final quarter without their leading scorer, as Seto picked up her third and fourth fouls late in the third.

With the score tied at 53-53 early in the fourth, the Titans used a free throw and a three-pointer by Magen Polczynski to take a four-point advantage with 6:55 to play.

Westminster held onto the lead for the better part of the next six minutes before a corner three by Gilbert gave W&J a 67-65 lead with 57 seconds left.

The Titans then took advantage of an aggressive Presidents' defense, drawing a foul and converting a pair of free throws to tie the score at 67. After an offensive foul by the Presidents gave the Titans possession, the home team again drew a foul and went to the free throw line. Two more successful free throws made it 69-67 Westminster.

After another free throw gave the Titans a three-point lead, Johnston countered with a layup to make the score 70-69. Westminster would walk to the other end and convert both free throws once again to extend to a three-point lead with seven seconds left.

W&J had a chance to tie the score but was unable to get a shot off in the final seconds and suffered their second PAC road loss this season.

The loss drops the Presidents to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in conference. The win keeps the Titans unbeaten in PAC play at 4-0 and improves Westminster to 11-2 overall.

The stat sheet was nearly identical in several categories, as both teams made 20 field goals and connected on seven three-point field goals. The Titans held a slight advantage at the free throw line, as the home team made 25-of-30 attempts while W&J converted 22-of-27 attempts at the charity stripe. The Titans out-rebounded the Presidents by a narrow 31-28 margin. Westminster won despite committing 22 turnovers.

W&J hosts Thiel College for a conference game on Jan. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.