NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College women's basketball team won, 80-73, at home over Bethany in its season opener Saturday afternoon. Titan sophomore Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) led the charge with a career-high 31 points, one point away from tying sixth all-time in program history. Murrio also made a crucial defensive stop in the final minutes to help seal the Titan victory.

The first quarter consisted of five lead changes and four ties. Westminster (1-0) had its largest lead when it started the game up 4-0. Bethany (1-1) had its largest lead of five, 19-14, with 1:30 left, however the Titans finished the frame strong with a 4-0 run and were only down by one, 19-18.

The Bison were up 30-26 with 5:32 to play in the second quarter, however, Westminster mustered a 15-4 run to take its largest lead of the game of seven points (41-34) when first-year Caitlyn Condoleon (Warren, OH / Warren JFK) found classmate Breannda Davis (Streetsboro, OH / Streetsboro) for a field goal with 1:24 left. The Titans led by the same at halftime, 43-36.

Bethany started the second half with a 14-5 run to cut Westminster's lead to 48-46. The Titans would not let the Bison get any closer for the remainder of the frame and led 57-50 at the end of three.

The Bison continued to chip at the Titans' lead, getting within one possession several times with the latest coming with 1:37 left when Bella Skobel made a pair of free throws, cutting Westminster's lead to 76-73. Murrio made a pivotal defensive stop on Bethany's ensuing possession, stripping the ball from Bethany's Makenzee Mason in the paint. Murrio then found sophomore Camden Hergenrother (Salem, OH / Cardinal Mooney) for a fastbreak-driving layup to put the Titans up five (78-73) with a minute to go. The Titans held off the Bison in the final minute.

Murrio also pocketed a game- and career-high six steals and snagged five boards. Also scoring in double figures for the Titans were Condoleon with 11 and junior Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin) with 10; Polczynski also dished out a game-high five assists. Senior Ashley Russell (Belle Vernon, PA / Belle Vernon) added nine points. Condoleon grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Davis added seven boards and six points. Hergenrother finished the game strong with six points and six rebounds and posted a game-high plus-minus of +14. Junior Megan Meyer (New Galilee, PA / Mohawk) added five points and five rebounds. Sophomore Jenna Bennett (Waterford, PA / Fort LeBoeuf) also had a field goal.

Mason led Bethany with 28 points, including a perfect 18-18 from the free throw line.

Westminster out shot Bethany 41.0% (32-78) to 39.3% (22-56) and held a 45-43 advantage on the glass. The Titans also had the advantage in second chance points, 15-8.

The Titans are back on the court next Saturday, Feb. 6 with a home game against Waynesburg at 1:30 p.m.