GCC rallies past Westminster in double OT
GROVE CITY, PA, February 13, 2002--On one of the most memorable Senior Nights in the history of Grove City College women's basketball, it was a pair of juniors who keyed a thrilling 77-73 double-overtime victory over the visiting Westminster Lady Titans Wednesday at the College Arena.
Junior Cara Denniston (Grove City, PA/Grove City) nailed a three-pointer from the right corner with 10 seconds left to forge a 56-56 tie at the end of regulation and junior Jessica Jenkins (Conneautville, PA/Cambridge Springs) converted 6 of 6 free throws in the second overtime to help Grove City (13-10) hand Westminster (12-11) just its second loss to a Presidents' Athletic Conference school in two years (17-2).
Westminster appeared headed for victory, leading by 11 points (52-41) with 5:18 left in the second half, but senior Stephanie Murphy (Munroe Falls, OH/Stow-Munroe Falls) ignited a Lady Wolverine rally with eight points in a span of 2:20 to cut the deficit to four (53-49) with 2:00 left. After Ashley Kenney made a pair of free throws to bump Westminster's lead to six (55-49), senior Kristy Kegg (Johnstown, PA/Ferndale) drilled a jumper at 1:09 to pull Grove City back within four (55-51). The Lady Titans then split a pair of free throws to go ahead by five (56-51) with 1:07 left, but Jenkins answered with a pair of free throws to trim the margin to three (56-53) at 0:56. Westminster turned the ball over with 31 seconds left, setting up Denniston's dramatic three-point swish from the baseline with 10 seconds showing.
In the first overtime, Denniston and Murphy each went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, tying the game on both occasions. After Westminster's Samor Himes made two free throws to give the Lady Titans a 62-60 lead with 32 seconds to go, Kegg forced a second OT with a game-tying basket with 24 seconds left.
Freshman Abby Moose (Mercer, PA/Mercer) jump-started the second extra session with a three-pointer, giving Grove City its first lead (65-64) since the early moments of the second half. The Lady Wolverines led the rest of the way as layups by Murphy and Denniston were sandwiched between six free throws by Jenkins that put Grove City ahead, 75-72, with 17 seconds left. Westminster split a pair of free throws to cut the margin to two (75-73) before Denniston iced the game with two free throws with one second left.
Murphy led the Lady Wolverines with 18 points and added eight rebounds, six assists and six steals. Denniston finished with a season-high 15 points, including two threes. Jenkins recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Kegg tossed in six points, while junior Christy Faller (Ijamsville, MD/Urbana) contributed eight boards.
Robin Thayer paced Westminster with 18 points.
Lady Wolverine seniors Murphy, Kegg, T.L. Thompson (Girard, PA/Girard), Erica Youngman (Slippery Rock, PA/Slippery Rock) and Adrienne Orris (Union City, PA/Union City) were honored prior to tip-off. All five started the game.
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