Small college basketball: W&J women secure home-court advantage in PAC
Associated Press
Bryn Bezjak scored 27 points and made four of Washington & Jefferson’s 14 three-point field goals as the Presidents routed winless Thiel 97-51 Wednesday to win the PAC women’s basketball regular-season title.
The win gives W&J (18-2, 21-4) home-court advantage throughout the conference tournament that begins next week. It is the fourth consecutive year that W&J has been the top seed in the tournament.
After Thiel (0-19, 0-24) led 13-10 midway through the first quarter, W&J ended the first half on a 44-12 run and the rout was on.
The Presidents had only three players score in double figures but 13 were in the scoring column and eight different players made at least one shot from behind the arc. Riley DeRubbo came off the bench and scored 14 points, making four of five three-point shots. Meghan Dryburgh tossed in 13 points.
California 89, Pitt-Johnstown 43
Talia Gilliard continued her strong play in the second half of the season by scoring 29 points as California routed visiting Pitt-Johnstown 89-43 in a PSAC West game.
Gilliard made 12 of 18 shots and had five three-point field goals. The Vulcans (11-7, 15-10) shot 57 percent.
Cal led 23-6 after one quarter and 47-12 at halftime.
Allycia Harris, Iyahnna Williams and Kimaya Williams each scored 10 points for Cal. Harris had a double-double as she finished with 13 rebounds.
The Vulcans have won three in a row. Pitt-Johnstown falls to 1-17 in the conference and 3-22 overall.
Waynesburg 79, Franciscan 58
It took Waynesburg some time to get going, but once the Yellow Jackets found their scoring touch they blew open a close game in the second half and defeated host Franciscan 79-58 in a PAC contest.
Waynesburg (8-11, 13-11) trailed 29-27 at halftime before scoring 52 points in the second half. The win assures the Yellow Jackets of a winning season.
Mia Henkins scored a team-high 21 points and made five three-point field goals. Tori Wesolowski had a strong all-around game, scoring 17 points to go with seven rebounds and six blocked shots. Madisen Dayton had 12 points and Kara McFadden added 10.
Franciscan (2-17, 2-22) was led by Caroline Reedy’s game-high 25 points.
Men’s results
California 91, Pitt-Johnstown 78
Point guard Donald Whitehead had 26 points and seven assists, powering California to a 91-79 win over Pitt-Johnstown in a PSAC West game at the Convocation Center.
Cal (11-7, 16-10) extended its winning streak to six games. Pitt-Johnstown is 7-11, 11-14.
Whitehead led five Cal players in double figures. Cam Polak scored 18 points, Jordyn Buchanan had 16, Kadyn Hannah 11 and Dalman Alexander 10. The Vulcans led 50-37 at halftime and by 23 points in the second half.
UPJ’s Jay Rose scored a game-high 27 points.
Wash & Jeff 84, Thiel 75
Matt Seidl scored 23 points, Nathan Plotner had a double-double and Washington & Jefferson won its 19th game of the season, an 84-75 triumph over Thiel in a PAC contest played on the Tomcats’ home court.
W&J (15-5, 19-6) led 48-30 at halftime. Thiel (7-12, 8-15) opened the second half with a 13-0 run to pull close, but W&J responded with a 17-6 spurt and cruised from that point.
Plotner had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Presidents. Cameron Rowell scored 14 points and Matthew Carte chipped in with 13.
Franciscan 78, Waynesburg 61
Sawyer Butler poured in a game-high 35 points, including seven three-point baskets, as Franciscan erased a halftime deficit and beat visiting Waynesburg 78-61 in a PAC game.
Waynesburg (5-14, 7-17), which has lost seven in a row, led 32-27 at halftime.
Butler was 7-for-13 from three-point range to lead the comeback by Franciscan (10-9, 15-9).
PJ Suggs and Jaylen Davis each scored 14 points for Waynesburg.
Josh Zimmerman had a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds for Franciscan.