Booth Nets Game Winner With No Time Left

Wheeling, WV, Nov. 24, 2009---The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball (2-1, 1-0) team opened conference play against The University of Pitt-Johnstown (1-3, 0-1) on Tuesday evening. 

Andrea Dalton hit a three-pointer with time winding down to give Pitt-Johnstown a two-point lead with 0:07 on the clock, and sophomore Kourtney Booth answered with a long three-pointer as time expired to give the Cardinals a 68-67 win over the Lady Cats.

In the first half, the Lady Cards jumped out to a quick 9-4 on two consecutive scoring possesions by frshman Lauren Myers.  UPJ would battle back by putting together an 8-0 run, making the game 12-9.

Senior Kim Mueller scored seven points to lead a 19-7 run to close out the half for a 39-27 lead at the break. Wheeling Jesuit was 14-30 from the field in the opening half and hit 10-12 from the charity stripe.                       

The begining of the second period belonged to the Mountain Cats.  They went on a 23-8 run, and captured the lead 50-47 with 8:42 remaining in the game. The lead would change hands five more times in the closing eight minutes. 

The Cardinals had a three point advantage with 0:51. UPJ hit a jumper to cut the lead to one, but sent Mueller to the foul line.  She knocked down both shots to remain three ahead.  The next possession, Cats' Andrea Dalton put in a field goal to cut the lead to one and sent WJU's Chrissy Pavlik to the line. 

After missing the free throw, Dalton connected again with 0:07 left in regulation. Junior Bridget Buskirk pushed the ball up the floor looking for an opening to score. Booth took the ball at the top of the key a two feet behind the men's 3-point arc and let it go with one tick on the clock, draining the three-ball for the win.

Mueller lead the Lady Cards with 21 points, shooting 6-14 from the field and grabbing four rebounds and posting two block shots while junior Megan Stuvek poured in Ten points, three blocks and seven rebounds. 

The Wheeling Jesuit women’s basketball team will be back in action on Tuesday, December 1st as they travel to Shepherdstown to battle the Rams of Shepherd University.  Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.