Women's Basketball Defeats Westminster 55-54 in Closing Seconds

Dec. 21 - (NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.) - Carnegie Mellon women's basketball team traveled to Westminster College Wednesday, December 21, and came away with a 55-54 victory over the Titans. The win moves the Tartans to 4-5, as the Titans drop to 1-9 with the loss.

The Titans led for most of the first half before Carnegie Mellon put together a 13-4 run taking a 23-20 lead on a lay-up by freshman Rachelle Roll (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) with 3:36 remaining in the first half. Westminster would not go away as they would convert on back-to-back three-point baskets taking a 26-23 lead. Westminster would continue to roll, as they ended the half on a 12-2 run taking a 32-25 lead into the locker room.

Westminster would start the second half where they left building a nine point lead. The Titans led 44-36 with 9:19 left in regulation, but over the next 5:30 the Tartans would score the next 12 points to take a 48-44 lead with 3:49 remaining. Westminster would once again fight back as junior Desiree Sterling completed a three-point play with 1:52 left giving the Titans the one point edge, 51-50.

Less than a minute later, sophomore Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Canevin Catholic) put the Tartans back on top 53-51 converting on a three-point play of her own. Sterling would hit a three-point shot with 36 ticks left on the clock making the score 54-53 Westminster. After a Tartan missed shot the Titans rebound the ball and called a timeout. Carnegie Mellon’s Roll would steal the inbound pass and feed freshman Katie White (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) for the game winning lay-up with nine seconds left.

White was the only Tartan in double figures, as she scored a career-high 16 points. Freshman Ashley Rothwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Alvernia) finished with a team-high eight rebounds and recorded six points. Feola finshed with nine points, while Roll and freshman Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) had seven points apiece.

Sterling led the Titans with a career-high 26 points. Westminster junior Talley Felger led all players with 10 boards.

Carnegie Mellon will be back in action Tuesday, January 3 as they travel to Gettysburg to play in the Gettysburg Classic January 3-4. The Tartans will play host Gettysburg Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.