NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - February 3, 2024 - Chatham Women's Basketball (19-3, 15-2) earned its fourth consecutive victory with a 71-61 win over the Westminster Titans (11-10, 9-8) on Saturday at the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium. The Cougars set a new program high for PAC wins in a season (15) and matched the high for overall wins (19), which were both set last season.
Junior guard
Ashlie Louden and
Charjae Brock scored 12 points each to lead the team in scoring. Louden added seven rebounds and two assists, while Brock contributed five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Sophomore forward
Alyssa Laukus netted 10 points on 4-8 shooting and tallied four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Her three blocks set a new season high and matched her career high. Junior guard
Emily Durkee was the other Cougar in double-figures, finishing with 10 points. Junior guard
Aurielle Brunner had five points, seven assists, six steals and four rebounds.
Chatham started the game on a 13-5 run, with five points each from Brock and Louden, but Westminster would answer with a 12-4 stretch to tie the game at 17. The two teams traded scores for the remainder of the period and ended the first quarter tied at 22. The Titans held a five-point lead, their largest of the day, midway through the second quarter, but a 15-4 Cougar run quickly turned the tide. Chatham would go into the halftime break with a four-point advantage. The Cougar defense held the Titans to just nine points in the third quarter, while the offense finished the period on a 10-4 run to take an 11-point lead into the final frame. Chatham slowed down offensively in the fourth quarter, but forced nine Westminster turnovers and went 3-4 from beyond the arc to maintain the lead and secure the victory.
The Cougars shot 40.7% (24-59) from the field and 47.1% (8-17) from three-point range while holding the Titans to 33.9% (21-62) overall and 40% (8-20) from deep. Westminster committed 28 turnovers with 19 steals from the Cougars.
Women's Basketball will host the Allegheny Gators on Wednesday at the AFC.
