WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The top-seeded Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball used a strong defensive effort to top second-seeded Westminster College by a 58-42 score in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship game at Salvitti Family Gymnasium on Saturday evening.
The win is the 11th straight for the Presidents, who will enter the NCAA Division III Tournament next week with a 23-4 overall record. The Presidents have won six PAC titles, with its most recent coming in 2005-06. W&J advanced to the PAC title game for a fifth straight season.
As the winner of the PAC's Championship Tournament, w&J will receive the league's automatic qualifying bid to this year's Division III Championship Tournament. Forty-four conferences have been granted automatic qualification to this year's 64-team championship. The selected Division III Championship teams as well as the first and second round site selections will be announced Monday, February 28 on ncaa.com. First and second round games are scheduled for Friday-Saturday, March 4-5.
W&J 18th-year head coach
Jina DeRubbo has led her teams to seven PAC titles. The title was her second during her tenure with the Red and Black.
The Presidents led 16-12 after the first quarter before carrying a 28-23 advantage into halftime. A strong third quarter allowed W&J to extend its lead into double figures for good. The Presidents outscored the Titans by a 16-8 margin during the frame, as they limited Westminster to just three made field goals.
Three Presidents scored in double figures. W&J was led by
Sarah Berardelli (Ambridge, Pa./North Catholic), who posted 11 points and seven rebounds in the victory.
Aleena McDaniel (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) put together a strong performance off the bench. The senior posted 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Victoria Koeck (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) drained four-of-five field goal attempts and finished with 10 points. Koeck sank both of her attempts from behind the three-point line.
Meghan Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) filled the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the victory.
W&J held a 17-0 advantage in bench points and a 38-31 rebounding edge. The Presidents converted 16-of-20 from the free throw line. The Titans made just four-of-11 free throw chances.
Westminster junior Natalie Murrio led all scorers with 19 points.
Berardelli was named Most Outstanding Player and earned All-Tournament honors.
Piper Morningstar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Dryburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) joined Berardelli on the All-Tournament Team.
