by Matt Koll
A fuller slate of games and a more regular season was a welcomed sight to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference after a shortened COVID season before this. It’s time to put all of that work to the test as the PAC tournament begins.
This season’s top seed is a program that’s appeared in four straight title games, yet is looking for their first championship since 2006. Let’s look at how the field is shaping up around top-seeded W&J.
#1 WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON (20-4) (17-1)
They’re the #1 seed and they’ve got #1 finish on their minds, especially after finishing last season as the runner-up to champion Saint Vincent. Could it be the year they break through?
The Presidents head into the tournament winners of eight games in a row, including wins against third-seeded Grove City and fourth-seeded Chatham. W&J plays a well-rounded game, finishing the year with the best scoring margin in the conference (+15.1). Where they really shine is field goal percentage. This team is tops in the PAC in field goal and three-point field goal shooting percentage, while showing off the league’s best field goal and 3-point field goal percentage defense.
They share the ball well (16.8 assists/game, 1st in PAC) and take care of it well with the PAC’s best assist to turnover ratio. They’re well-balanced and have scorers all over the lineup, but senior Piper Morningstar leads them on the stat sheet (11.3 ppg) while freshman Meghan Dryburgh has posted an impressive first season ranking in the top 20 in scoring and finishing as the conference’s third-best rebounder.
Next game: Tuesday vs. winner of #8 Waynesburg/#9 Thiel
#2 WESTMINSTER (16-8) (13-5)
The second seed should do the Titans well because they have been much better at home (10-2) than on the road this season (5-5). This team shoots the ball well, ranking third in field goal and 3-point field goal shooting percentage. They had a game against Grove City get away from them on Feb. 16, but before that they were on a six-game winning streak.
“We learned that it will take a complete 40 minute game to win in this league and our defense needs to travel better on the road,” said head coach Roseanne Scott. There’s also no doubt they’ve got a weapon in junior Natalie Murrio, who comes into the tournament as the league’s top scorer (17.3 ppg). “Her ability to be an all-around player, not just one dimensional, makes her a hard player to matchup with,” said Scott. “She is a great teammate and will do whatever it takes to win whether it’s make the shot, make the pass or get the rebound we need.”
Scott draws confidence from Westminster’s togetherness and resiliency that they’ve shown throughout this season and she knows that anything can happen when teammates are playing for each other. Something else to note: Westminster owns the best free throw shooting percentage as well, could come in handy if/when things get tight.
Next game: Tuesday vs. winner of #7 Geneva-#10 Franciscan
#3 GROVE CITY (16-8) (13-5)
The league’s top-scoring outfit will try to bounce back from a loss against W&J to end the regular season, and it’s got plenty of firepower to do so. Junior Megan Kallock (16.5 ppg) and senior Allison Podkul (11.5 ppg) lead the way offensively, while freshman Mara Polczynski is among the conference leaders in assists.
Offensive rebounding is where this team really separates itself, ranking first in the PAC at 46 offensive boards per game. “We emphasize it and try to get one percent better at it each day in practice or in games,” said head coach Chelle Fuss.
Fuss is in her 9th season as head coach and 16th in the basketball program and will bring that experience to this tournament, especially in being one of the top seeds in previous seasons.
“The postseason is what we have been working for all year,” Fuss says. “Things do not change for us because postseason has been our focus. We want to get into the tournament and then live out what we have been working on.”
Next game: Tuesday vs. #6 Saint Vincent
#4 CHATHAM (17-8) (11-7)
This Cougars team plays lockdown defense. They boast the top unit in the conference and have held opponents under 50 points 11 different times this season. They’ll have to use that to their advantage if/when they get deeper into the tournament having lost to each of the top three seeds twice this season, although they were within three against Westminster the last time they played the #2 seed Titans.
Chatham is also the best team in the conference at handling the basketball with a leading +4.76 turnover margin.
Next game: Tuesday vs. #5 Bethany
#5 BETHANY (14-10) (9-8)
The Bison will have to figure out a better strategy against their first round opponent after losing twice to them in the regular season (55-46 at home, 67-38 on the road). Being away from their home court could also be a problem. While their home record is extremely impressive at 10-2, including quality wins against W&J and Grove City, they’ve been an entirely different team on the road, finishing the season 3-7.
They’re the top defensive rebounding team in the league and have the conference’s 2nd-leading scorer Lindsey Garrison to help get them past this first round. Sophomore Makenzee Mason averages in double figures as well (12.7 ppg) and is the PAC’s 6th-highest scorer.
Next game: Tuesday @ #4 Chatham
#6 SAINT VINCENT (8-13) (7-10)
An upset victory will most likely have to start with domination on the glass. The Bearcats are 2nd in the conference in rebounding margin, including a 2nd-place finish in offensive rebounds. They’ll need to capitalize on second-chance opportunities against a Grove City team that they’ve beaten once already this season, a 71-63 win at home in which junior Ella Marconi post a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) and freshman Emily Thompson chipped in 15 points.
The Bearcats also had 21 point off the bench in that game, so they’ll need all hands on deck to advance.
Next game: Tuesday @ #3 Grove City
#7 GENEVA (9-14) (8-10)
Geneva has a high-powered offensive attack, finishing the regular season as the PAC’s 2nd-highest scoring offense. It’s been the defense that has held them back, the give up more points per game than anyone else in the PAC.
They beat Franciscan both times they played them this year, although the last matchup was only decided by three points. They love to take the ball away, ranking 1st in steals, and sophomore Cynthia Stewart (12.0 ppg) and junior Mia San Nicolas (11.5 ppg) provide a good one-two punch offensively.
Next game: Monday vs. #10 Franciscan
#8 WAYNESBURG (5-19) (5-13)
Brooke Fuller leads the way for the Yellow Jackets, not only as the conference’s 4th-leading scorer (16.2 ppg) but also as its top rebounder (10.6 rebs/gm). The Jackets have beaten Thiel resoundingly twice during the regular season. If they get past the Tomcats, #2 Westminster awaits, a team that Waynesburg only lost to by one point at home on February 12th.
Next game: Monday vs. #9 Thiel
#9 THIEL (5-16) (3-12)
The Tomcats will look to ride the momentum from a 56-55 upset victory over Saint Vincent to end the regular season as it goes on the road to play Waynesburg. Thiel looks to junior Destiny Johnson, the PAC’s 7th-leading scorer (12.2 ppg), to lead them to victory.
#10 FRANCISCAN (1-22) (1-16 PAC)
The scoring combo of freshman Madison Doan (11.7 ppg) and freshman Chiara MacGillivray (11.3 ppg) will have to be on their game to lead the Barons to an upset victory.
