NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster women's basketball came back from a halftime deficit and held off Geneva on Senior Night with an 82-77 win Wednesday night. First-year Katie Fitzpatrick (Cumberland Center, ME / Greely) registered the first double-double of her career with 13 points and a game-high 16 rebounds – both career-highs.
 
Sophomore Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) led all scorers with 27 points (9-17), to go along with a career-high six assists and eight rebounds (tying a career-high). Junior Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin) also scored in double-digits with 12 points, while adding six assists and three steals. First-year Breannda Davis (Streetsboro, OH / Streetsboro) set career-highs in both points (9) and rebounds (8). Sophomore Lindsay Bell (Youngstown, OH / Ursuline) and junior Megan Meyer (New Galilee, PA / Mohawk) both had eight points. Bell added 10 rebounds. Senior Ashley Russell (Belle Vernon, PA / Belle Vernon), who was recognized prior to the game, had five points (including clutch free throws) and tied a career-high with four rebounds.
 
Geneva (3-5) was in control for the most of the first quarter and had its largest lead of eight points at 16-8 with 2:54 left. Westminster (4-2) responded by outscoring the Golden Tornadoes 10-2 for the remainder of the frame including a jumper by Davis in the final seconds to tie the game at 18 at the end of one. Geneva took a commanding seven-point lead (34-27) with four minutes left in the first half, however, the Titans fought back again with a 7-0 run to knot the game up at 34 with two minutes left. The Golden Tornadoes did not let Westminster regain the lead and led 42-41 at halftime.
 
The Titans came out in the third quarter on a mission, outscoring Geneva 23-12 in the frame. Westminster had its largest lead of 13 points (64-51) and led 64-54 going into the final stanza. Seven different Titans scored in the quarter led by Murrio with nine points. In the fourth quarter, Geneva chipped away at Westminster's lead and got within one possession twice. A three-pointer by Emily Melnek got the Golden Tornadoes within three points (77-74) with 1:30 left, however, two clutch free throws by Russell put the Titans in front 79-74 with a minute left. Geneva made it interesting with another three, this time from Abby King, to make the score 79-77 in favor of the Titans. With Westminster up 80-77, Polczynski had a game-sealing steal and drained two free throws.
 
Westminster dominated the glass with a 64-43 advantage, only six shy from tying a school record (vs. Salve Regina, 2010). The Titans also outshot Geneva, 42.6% (29-68) to 33.3% (30-90).
 
The Titans' remaining regular season games are on the road, with the first game at Chatham on Saturday Feb. 27 with a 1 p.m. start.