NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The No. 4 Westminster College women's basketball team won, 69-65, over No. 5 Chatham University in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Quarterfinals at home Monday night.
 
Westminster (6-4) advances to the PAC Semifinals, marking the first time the Titans have advanced to the Semifinals in consecutive years in 14 years (2007-08 season).
 
Three Titans scored in double-digits, led by sophomore Natalie Murrio (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) who knocked down a game-high 22 points – her fifth 20-plus point game this season. Murrio also had a game-high four blocks (tying a career-best). Sophomore Lindsay Bell (Youngstown, OH / Ursuline) notched the second double-double of her career with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Junior Magen Polczynski (Irwin, PA / Norwin), who dished out a game-high four assists, rounded out the Titans with double-figure points with 11. First-year Katie Fitzpatrick (Cumberland Center, ME / Greely) added nine points and seven rebounds, to go along with a team-high three steals. Senior Ashley Russell (Belle Vernon, PA / Belle Vernon) had eight points, including a pair of clutch three-pointers. Rounding out the scorers for Westminster was junior Megan Meyer (New Galilee, PA / Mohawk) with seven points, who also tied a career-high with seven rebounds.
 
Chatham (4-5) had an early 9-6 lead three minutes into the game. Westminster responded with a 12-3 run, capped off with a layup by Bell, to take an 18-12 lead. The Titans shot 53.3% from the field in the first and led 21-16 after one. The Cougars got within three points (23-20) of Westminster's lead, however, the Titans finished the first half strong outscoring Chatham 11-4 - including their first double-digit lead – and led 34-24 at halftime.
 
In the second half, Westminster continued its offensive surge in the first part of the frame, including its largest lead of the game at 16 points (44-28) when Fitzpatrick made a fast-break layup with 5:05 on the clock. Chatham would not go out quietly as it mustered a 10-0 lead, cutting the Titans' lead to 44-38 with 2:45 to play. After Westminster regained a double-figure lead (50-40), the Cougars finished the third quarter strong with a 7-2 run and the Titans only led 52-47 going into the final frame.
 
The Cougars made it interesting in the fourth, getting within single possessions of Westminster's lead multiple times, including at 64-62 with 52 seconds to play. Chatham had a chance to tie the game with 18 seconds left, however Fitzpatrick denied three-straight layup attempts by Maddy Grennes (who led the Cougars with 19 points). Following the three misses by the Cougars, Murrio grabbed the rebound and drew a foul. Murrio would sink both free throws, extending the Titans' lead to 66-62 with nine seconds left. Chatham came out of a full timeout with a three by Kaitlyn Fertig, making the score 66-65 in favor of the Titans. Down 67-65, Fertig had an opportunity to tie the game as she was fouled and went to the line, however, missed the first the free throw attempt and was forced to miss the second to give Chatham another opportunity – however a big-time rebound by Fitzpatrick sealed the Titan win.
 
Westminster will play at top-seeded Saint Vincent (8-0) for the right to advance to the Championship game on Wednesday, March 17 at 6 p.m.