NEW WILMINGTON, PA. (January 13, 2010) -- In their second overtime in as many games, the women of Thiel College basketball came up short against the Westminster Titans losing, 54-56, Wednesday despite a record breaking defensive effort from Kelly Barzak (Warren, OH/Howland).

Through most of the first half the Tomcats and the Titans stayed neck-and-neck resulting in six ties over the initial 18 minutes of play.  With about two minutes remaining in the half, the Titans would pull away, scoring eight unanswered points ending the first with a 26-21 lead.

The second half began with Westminster continuing to keep the visiting women of Thiel at arms length by matching the Tomcats point for point.  The 'Cats refused to go quietly into the New Wilmington night, however, as they went on a final run with six minutes remaining in the contest, culminating with a Rianne Thornton (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) lay in to push the game into overtime.

Much like the first two halves, the Titans would jump out to the lead in bonus time.   And, even though the women of Thiel managed to cut the Westminster lead to two points with less than a minute remaining, they couldn't quite get over the hump.

Barzak, led a dominating Thiel College defense that held Westminster to shooting a mere 25.7 percent from the field in the loss.  

Barzack tallied a Thiel College single game record nine blocks to go along with 15 points and six rebounds, while Ashley Davis (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) contributed 14 points and five boards. 

The Thiel women head down to Crestview Hills, Ky. on Saturday, Jan. 16 for a 1 p.m. match up against the Thomas More Saints.