Sterling nearing Titans scoring mark

NEW WILMINGTON -- This season has been a historic one for Desiree Sterling, a junior guard for the Westminster College women's basketball team.
But next season has the potential to be even bigger for the all-around standout from Newton Falls High.
A school record awaits for Sterling if her shots continue to fall.
Sterling scored 336 points this season to give her 1,018 for her three years as a starter, making her the seventh female player in school history to score more than 1,000 points.
And now she needs just 270 more points next season to become Westminster's all-time career leading scorer.
Thayer holds record
The current record-holder is Robin Thayer (South Range), who scored 1,287 points from 1998-2001.
Completing the top five are Erica Tallo (1,227 points from 2001-05), Colleen Dion (1,185, 1992-96; Donna Diegan (1,149, 1984-88) and Deanna Kaczynski (1,148, 1993-97).
Sterling led Westminster in four categories this season: scoring average (12.9), free-throw percentage (75.8 on 75-for-99), 3-point goals (25 for 1.0 per game) and steals (49 for 1.9), and also ranked No. 2 in rebounds (5.7) while averaging 1.8 assists.
She was selected to the All-Presidents' Athletic Conference team for the third straight year, named to the second unit after making the first team as a sophomore and the second squad as a freshman. She also was named PAC freshman of the year.
Right behind Sterling in scoring average was Emilee Ackerman (12.7), followed by Terese Marszalek (9.5), Nicole Fee (7.1), Rachel Easton (6.3), Talley Felger (4.1) and Gina Brunetti (2.5). Fee is from Neshannock, Felger from Springfield and Brunetti from Cardinal Mooney.
Scott at the helm
Sterling helped the Titans to an 8-19 record, including 4-8 in the PAC for fourth-year coach Rosanne Scott (Struthers High and Bethany College).
Scott, a 2000 Bethany graduate, has compiled a 54-57 record over her four seasons at Westminster, including 21-8 in 2004-05 that established three school milestones.
The 21 wins were the most in school history, and the Titans also won their first PAC championship and qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time. In the NCAA meet, they upended Dickinson before falling in the second round.
Sterling was guided to Westminster by John Hritz, her basketball coach at Newton Falls who also coached Scott at Struthers.
Hritz recommended Sterling to Scott, and Sterling became part of Scott's first recruiting class with the Titans.
"I called Scott and I told her that I have a diamond-in-the-rough here," recalled Hritz, who now coaches the Liberty High girls. Hritz said that he saw something special in Sterling.
McGarry off to great start
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Katherine McGarry, a 6-0 freshman forward for the Colgate women's basketball team from Salem High and Poland, enjoyed a strong rookie campaign for the Raiders while averaging 15.5 minutes of playing time each game.
Through 26 games, McGarry led the team in both field goal percentage (48.0 on 24-for-50) and free throw percentage (76.6 on 36-for-47). She averaged 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds.
The Raiders posted an 8-18 record, including 6-7 in the Patriot League, under second-year coach Kristin Hughes.
McGarry is majoring in pre-medicine.
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