BETHANY, W.VA. -- Bethany drained four free throws in the final minute to finish off a 64-59 win over the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game Wednesday evening in West Virginia. 

This loss snaps W&J's seven-game winning as they fall to 12-4 overall. W&J now sits at 9-1 in conference play. Bethany improves to 10-5 overall and 5-3 in the PAC. 

Three Presidents scored in double figures, as Piper Morningstar (Pittsburgh,Pa./North Allegheny) led the way with a team-high 14 points. Kamryn Lach (Bethel Park,Pa./Bethel Park) finished the night with 13 points for the Red & Black while Aleena McDaniel (Morgantown, W.VA./Morgantown) came off the bench for W&J to add 10 points.

Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa./North Catholic) scored the initial basket of the game to give the the Presidents the early edge. The Bison quickly countered with six points to take the lead. The Bison would stretch the lead to seven (12-5) on a layup by Alexis Heap at the 5:19 mark. W&J answered with a 7-0 run and tied the score at 12-12 when Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) converted a layup with 49 seconds to play in the quarter. A late three-pointer allowed Bethany to end the run and take a 15-12 lead after 10 minutes of play. 

W&J struggled offensively in the second quarter, as the visitors converted just two field goal attempts in the frame. After a layup by Morningstar to open the quarter cut the deficit to a single point at 15-14, the Bison took control to build a 26-19 lead at halftime. 

The Presidents responded in the third quarter, as they put together their best offensive quarter of the game. The Bison were able to strengthen its lead to 12 on a three-pointer by Ashleigh Wheeler that made the score 34-22 at the 7:35 mark. W&J used an 11-0 run over the next two-plus minutes to pull within one at 34-33. Morningstar, Victoria Koeck (Sideman, Pa./Forest Hills) and Lach all buried three-point field goals during the W&J run. 

Bryn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) and McDaniel teamed up to help W&J tie the score after three quarters. Trailing by five points late in the frame, Bezjak drained a three-pointer at the 1:09 mark and McDaniel followed with a jumper with 27 seconds to play in the third. The McDaniel basket made the score 41-41 heading to the fourth. 

A three-point play by McDaniel allowed W&J to take a 49-47 lead with 6:52 to play. Following a three-pointer by Bethany, McDaniel drew a foul and sank both free throws to give W&J a 51-50 lead. Following a defensive stop, Morningstar converted a layup with 5:01 to play to push the W&J lead to three. However, W&J could not gain seperation as the Bison answered with a three to tie the score on the ensuing possession. 

Bethany took the lead for good when Makenzee Mason scored with 1:43 to play. W&J had a chance to even the score with a three-point play but was unable to convert the free throw at the 41 second mark. The Bison converted four free throws to put the game away at the line. 

Lindsey Garrison led the Bison with a game-high 28 points while Ashleigh Wheeler added 16. 

Bethany held a key advantage at the free throw line. The Bison converted 21-of-24 attempts (87.5 percent) while W&J sank 13-of-20 (65.0 percent).

W&J looks to get back on track on Saturday, Jan. 29 when they host Saint Vincent College. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. No external fans are allowed to attend the game. Only W&J students are permitted to attend the PAC doubleheader Saturday.