Moore’s basket in OT puts W&J in conference title game
CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Amirah Moore made a go-ahead layup with 11 seconds remaining and Washington & Jefferson overcame a six-point deficit in overtime to defeat Saint Vincent 63-62 Friday night in the semifinals of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament that is being hosted by Thomas More.
W&J (22-4) will play top-seeded Thomas More in the championship game this afternoon. The Saints defeated Grove City in the other semifinal.
Saint Vincent (18-9) used an 8-2 surge to start overtime and forge a 61-55 lead with only 1:29 remaining. W&J then used layups by Moore and Danielle Parker to close to within 61-59 with 35 seconds to play.
The Bearcats’ Maria Benvenuti, who scored 12 points, made one of two free throws to give Saint Vincent a three-point edge. Parker, who scored a game-high 25 points on 11-for-23 shooting, worked for a layup that cut Saint Vincent’s advantage to 62-61 with 24 seconds remaining.
A Saint Vincent turnover gave the ball back to W&J, and Moore, who finished with nine points and 10 assists, made the game-winning shot.
Saint Vincent led 29-28 at halftime but W&J held the Bearcats to 10 third-quarter points to open a 46-38 lead. The Bearcats got back in the game and forced overtime by holding W&J scoreless over the final 7:37 of regulation and to two points over an 11-minute stretch that extended into the extra session.
The Bearcats, however, were unable to take advantage of a big edge in free-throw attempts. Saint Vincent made 13 of 26 foul shots compared to W&J’s 4 of 7.
Parker was the only W&J player to score in double figures. Paige Montrose led saint Vincent with 13 points.