PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Chatham Women's Basketball (24-3, 18-2) won its first PAC championship in program history with a 77-50 victory over the Geneva Golden Tornadoes (14-14, 11-9) on Saturday at the AFC. The team was undefeated at home this season (13-0) and will advance to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

Junior Ashlie Louden led the game with 23 points on 8-17 shooting with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Sophomore Hannah Chenault hit four triples to end with 17 points, while sophomore Alyssa Laukus scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and set a new program single-game record with 6 blocks. Laukus had tied the record of five in each of the last two games and was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Additionally, junior Aurielle Brunner had nine assists and seven steals. Her first steal of the night broke Chatham's all-time steals record of 263, which was previously held by Katie Sieg.

Chatham scored the first seven points of the game, with four from junior Zelimar Rodriguez, and parlayed that into a 19-3 run to take over early. Geneva scored six straight to cut the deficit to 10, then junior Samantha Hardy made a layup to give the Cougars a 21-9 lead at the end of the first.

A 12-6 run with threes from Chenault and Louden to start the second quarter grew Chatham's lead to 18 points. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and the Cougars went into the half leading 38-22.

Geneva started the second half with a 12-4 run to cut the game to eight points, but Chatham responded with a 16-3 stretch to close out the period and take command once more.

The Cougars pulled out the stifling defense again in the final frame, allowing just 13 points while Louden and Brock contributed eight points each to help seal the championship.

The Cougars shot 43.5% (30-69) from the field and held the Golden Tornadoes to 26.2% (17-65). Chatham forced 27 turnovers and racked up 24 steals, their third-most in a game this season.

Women's Basketball now awaits their draw in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for Monday at 2:30 p.m.