ERIE, Pa. – Chelsea Apke recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe to help Washington & Jefferson defeat Penn State Behrend 63-62 to capture the Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday afternoon in the Junker Center.
Apke scored the Presidents' (2-0) eight of their final 11 points of the game to be named the Tournament MVP. Beka Bellhy also posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Bellhy drained W&J's final basket with 4:44 remaining to put them ahead for good.
The Lions (1-1), who were cut short of repeating as tournament champions, were led by All-Tournament Team selections Julia Myers (Edinboro, PA/General McLane) and Ally Burke (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst). Myers tallied her second straight double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Burke went 8-for-14 from the floor for a game-high 19 points.
The Presidents, who held a slight lead for most of the game, were able to fend off Behrend down the stretch to open their season with back-to-back wins.
Down by 10 points in the opening minutes of the second half, the Lions got eight consecutive points by Burke and a triple by Brianna Bayly (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny) to make it 45-40. Myers got her layup to fall, before Behrend knocked in three straight from behind the arc combined with a basket by Burke to go ahead 51-47.
The Apke streak started moments later, getting six straight points to give the visitors a two-point lead at 58-56.
The next three points scored by the Presidents from the line and Bellhy made the final field goal at 4:44 for a 63-56 lead.
The Lions fought back with Bayly hitting a pair of free throws and Burke draining consecutive layups thanks to a W&J turnover to make it 63-62 with 1:57 showing on the clock.
Behrend had four possessions in the final two minutes, but the turnover bug that got the Lions in the first half returned to stop them from attempting a last shot without time expiring.
Behrend returns to action on Tuesday against Thiel. Game time is 6 p.m.
