PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Chatham Women's Basketball (23-3, 18-2) is headed to the PAC title game for the second year in a row after defeating the Bethany Bison (15-12, 12-8) by the score of 66-56 on Thursday at the AFC. The Cougars used stifling defense in the first half to build an early lead that would not be overcome.

Junior Ashlie Louden led the game in scoring with 17 points on 7-15 shooting and seven rebounds. Louden added three steals with two assists and made both of the teams' three-pointers. Sophomore Alyssa Laukus netted 15 points on 7-10 shooting and matched the program's single-game record of five blocks for the second game in a row. Junior Aurielle Brunner, who had 13 points on 6-8 shooting, tied the Cougars' all-time record of 263 with her five in Thursday's contest. Junior Charjae Brock recorded 11 points with five assists, four steals and three rebounds.

The first quarter was a defensive struggle with a combined 0-10 from deep between the two sides. Chatham led 10-6 at 2:31 in the first after layups from Brunner and junior Zelimar Rodriguez, but a jumper from Bethany a minute later and another at the buzzer ended the quarter in a 10-10 tie. 

The second quarter was when the Cougars pulled ahead, scoring the first 23 points of the period, with six from Laukus and five from Brunner. The Bison responded with a 10-0 run to end the quarter as Chatham went into the halftime break with a 33-20 lead.

The Cougars would score the first eight points of the second half, with five more from Laukus, to take a 21-point lead, but an 8-2 Bison run brought it back down to 15. The teams traded scores resulting in a 50-34 Chatham lead entering the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Bethany ripped off a 13-2 run to pull within five points, but the Cougars stayed resilient. An and-one and a three pointer from Louden fueled a 10-3 run that gave Chatham a 12-point lead with 1:29 to play, which was enough to secure the win.

The Cougars shot 48.3% (29-60) from the field, but only 11.1% (2-18) from beyond the arc. Bethany committed 23 turnovers to Chatham's 16, while the Bison won the board battle 39-34.

Chatham will host the PAC Final for the first time in program history as they face #5 Geneva on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the AFC.