WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's basketball team concluded the 2024-25 season Thursday night by dropping a 70-55 verdict at top-seeded Washington & Jefferson in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament semifinals at Salvitti Family Gymnasium. 

A seven-minute scoring drought at the start of the fourth quarter help foil Grove City's upset bid. The Wolverines went 1 for 15 from the floor in the fourth quarter as W&J extended its lead over the final 10 minutes. 

Junior center Meredith Sherrerd (New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels) paced the fourth-seeded Wolverines (16-11) with 14 points. Senior guard Mara Polczynski (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, her second double-double of the tournament.

Grove City trailed 43-34 at halftime but eventually whittled the lead to 57-51 in the final minute of the third quarter as junior guard Reese Hasley (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) scored in the paint and freshman forward Alexis Hudson (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) hit a three-pointer after a Hasley steal and assist.

However, W&J's Riley DeRubbo drained a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the period to give the Presidents a 60-51 lead. 

Grove City finished the game 23 of 68 (34 percent) from the field. W&J converted 25 of 60 (42 percent) field goal attempts. The Wolverines amassed a 43-39 edge in rebounds. Sherrerd snared five rebounds.

Polczynski also tallied five assists. Hasley and Sherrerd both had three assists. Grove City turned over the ball 16 times while W&J had 14 turnovers. 

Katie Kovalchik led the Presidents (22-4) with 20 points. W&J will host No. 3 Chatham in Saturday's championship game at 4:30 p.m. Chatham won at second-seeded Allegheny in the other Thursday semifinal bout, 57-45. 

Grove City will graduate guard Jaden Davinsizer (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley), forward Nevaeh Ewing (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch), forward Clara Hannon (Grove City, Pa./Grove City), guard Haley Hertzler (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport), center Kiley Ingram (Cincinnait, Ohio/Kings), Polczynski and center Emily Wentworth (Canton, N.Y./Canton Central), along with student assistant coach Ashley Durig (Washington, Pa./Trinity).