BRADFORD, Pa. – The Thiel College women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season Wednesday with a 67-61 non-conference loss on the road to Pitt Bradford Panthers.
 
Thiel trailed by 12 points (35-23) at halftime and by 15 points (45-30) with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Tomcats finished the third frame on a 17-7 run to cut the lead down to five points (52-47). Taylor Susany (Struthers, Ohio/Struthers), Maddy Triskett (Orwell, Ohio/Berkshire) and Lexy Wagner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) each made a three-pointer during the stretch with Wagner's three coming with six seconds remaining in the quarter.
 
The Tomcats cut the lead down to three points on three occasions in the fourth quarter, the last of which was with 48 seconds remaining in regulation after Jah'nya Dorsey (Warren, Ohio/LaBrae) drained a jumper.
 
Paige Gratto made a pair of free-throws on Pitt Bradford's next possession, and the Panthers held on for the non-conference win.
 
Gratto led all players with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Wagner led the Tomcats with a career-high 18 points while securing five rebounds. Susany scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. Josie Lewis (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) recorded nine points and five rebounds. Dorsey led Thiel with eight rebounds and scored eight points.
 
The Tomcats will face the Geneva Golden Tornadoes on the road on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.