WASHINGTON, Pa. - The Bethany College women's basketball team fell to Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College by a final score of 83-74 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game in Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
Bethany (15-9, 10-5 PAC) fell to an early deficit as W&J (18-6, 13-2 PAC) got out to a 21-3 start, but the Bison would storm all the way back to pull within two late in the fourth quarter. Despite falling short at the final buzzer, the Green and White secured a spot in the 2025-26 PAC Tournament as the Tournament field is now set with Saint Vincent, W&J, Chatham, and Bethany representing the conference's South Division. Seedings and times for Tuesday, Feb. 24's First Round matchups will be determined following Saturday's games.
Bethany Leaders
- Sophomore Academic All-PAC guard Addy Blazer (Hanoverton, Ohio/United Local) scored a career-high 18 points and led the team with 10 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists for her second career double-double
- Graduate All-PAC guard Lindsey Garrison (Triadelphia, W.Va./Wheeling Park) heated up in the second half scoring 20 points on the night with four rebounds, two assists, and a steal
- Sophomore guard Martina Howe (Clarksburg, W.Va./Robert C. Byrd) also posted career-highs in points with 13 and in rebounds with four
- Freshman guard Lindsey Best (Rayland, Ohio/Martins Ferry) recorded her first 10-rebound game as she also added three steals and three assists
- Sophomore guard Ella Simpson (Morgantown, W.Va./University) finished with nine points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal
- Senior Academic All-PAC guard Taylor Dusenberry (Dilliner, Pa./Mapletown) made three of her four shots including two threes to total eight points with three rebounds and a steal
W&J Leaders
- Junior forward Katie Kovalchik finished with 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting and nine rebounds
- Graduate guard Riley DeRubbo led the team in points and assists with 24 and six, respectively
- Junior guard Marina Grado added 15 points for the W&J offense
First Quarter (W&J 26-9)
- The Presidents scored 10 straight out the gate on their way to an early 21-3 lead
Second Quarter (W&J 43-31)
- Blazer finished the quarter with six points, six rebounds, and two assists
- Dusenberry drilled two from beyond the arc
Third Quarter (W&J 61-49)
- The Bison went on a 16-8 run over the first six minutes of the quarter to make it a two-score game
- Bethany's defense forced five turnovers and collected three of the team's nine steals on the night
Fourth Quarter (W&J 83-74)
- Garrison opened the quarter with back-to-back-to-back threes to force a W&J timeout and to pull the Bison within two
- Bethany shot 42.9% from the floor and outrebounded the Presidents 12-10
The Bison are back in action on Saturday, February 21 as they host the Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) on Senior Day and a Presidents' Athletic Conference game at 1 p.m. on Joe Kurey Memorial Court inside Hummel Fieldhouse.