Women’s Basketball holds off Westminster, 68-62

Steve Janik, Assistant Sports Information Director

BETHANY, W.Va. (Dec. 19) - The Bethany College women's basketball team defeated Westminster 68-62 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup on Monday.

With the win, the Bison improve to 4-7 overall, 2-2 in the PAC. Meanwhile, the Titans fall to 0-4 in league play, 4-6 overall.

Junior forward Kelsea Daugherty (Newport, Ohio/Frontier) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Bison. Senior guard Hayley Holenka (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Ashley Duthie (Madison, Ohio/Madison) added 15 points in the win.

Holenka started off strong for the Bison with eight points in the first quarter, helping Bethany open an 18-14 lead after one period.

The Titans played a tight second quarter taking the lead two times. Bethany used two foul shots from Duthie and a layup by sophomore guard Maclaine Murad (Bridgeport, Ohio/Bridgeport) in the closing seconds of the first half to take a 30-26 lead into the break.

The Green & White extended its lead to six on a Duthie layup to start the third quarter. Westminster stormed back to take a 33-32 lead, before freshman forward Abby McDonald (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) knocked down a trey to put the hosts back up five, 38-33, and force a Westminster timeout. 

Leading 49-45 heading into the fourth quarter, Bethany used the foul line to ice the visiting Titans.  Holenka hit a layup in the final period's opening seconds to put the Bison back up six; a lead that the Bethany maintained for the remainder of the game.

The Bison shot 25-for-38 (65 percent) from the charity stripe in the game, while Westminster was 13-for-20 (69 percent).

The Bison now enter winter break before they get back on the court on Thursday, January 5 and head to Latrobe, Pennsylvania to take on Saint Vincent. The opening-tip is slated for 5:30 p.m.