February 19, 2014
Grove City drops OT decision
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's basketball team dropped a 73-72 overtime verdict at Presidents' Athletic Conference rival Westminster Wednesday night at Memorial Field House.
Grove City led 62-59 in the closing moments of regulation but Westminster's Gabby Holko hit a three-pointer with 4.5 seconds left. Grove City had a chance to win at the buzzer but a three-point attempt by junior guard Kelsey Shirey (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) missed.
Westminster jumped out to a 67-62 lead in overtime but Shirey's layup sparked a 6-1 spurt that tied the game at 68. Her steal and subsequent basket tied the game with 1:06 left in regulation. Holko and Courtney Zitt both hit two free throws in the final minute to help the Titans take a 73-70 lead.
Grove City pulled to within 73-72 with 1.4 seconds left on a basket by freshman guard Jackie Stewart (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) but Westminster successfully inbounded the ball to preserve the win.
Grove City led by as many as 12, 30-18, in the first half before Westminster cut the margin to 32-25 by halftime. Holko hit a three with seven minutes left to put Westminster (14-10, 11-6 PAC) up 51-49 but Grove City countered with a 7-0 run.
Junior guard Brandy Nickoloff (Pittsburgh, Pa./St. Joseph) tied the game with a layin while sophomore forward Mary McDonald (Slippery Rock, Pa./Portersville Christian) followed with a layup of her own. Shirey's three-pointer with 3:49 left pushed the Wolverines' lead to 56-51.
Shirey led Grove City with 17 points while sophomore forward Kathryn Erbelding (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia) added 14 points, seven rebounds and six steals. McDonald finished with 13 points and seven boards.
Erbelding, Nickoloff and Shirey all had three assists. Grove City shot 32 of 75 (43 percent) from the floor and had a season-low 11 turnovers. Westminster went 20 for 55 (36 percent) from the field and committed 20 turnovers.
Westminster outrebounded Grove City 52-34. The Titans went 28 for 40 at the foul line while Grove City made 5 of 8 foul shots.
Zitt led Westminster with 21 points.
Grove City (7-17, 5-12 PAC) closes the regular season Saturday against visiting Thiel at 1 p.m. It is Senior Day and Hall of Fame Day at the College.
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