Junior Mackenzie Haddox's double-double helped the Westminster women's basketball team edge out Fontbonne University Wednesday evening, 78-68. The win brings the Westminster Blue Jays to a 7-2 record in conference and an 8-5 overall record.
The tough game had the lead changing seven times in the first 10 minutes of the game. Junior Kasey Gatson drained a three-pointer to take the lead from the Fontbonne Griffins, and junior Sadie Theroff put in another three to take a 22-17 lead with nine minutes remaining in the half.
The Griffins scored two consecutive baskets to bring the game within one, but Haddox dropped in both free throws to pull away again. With 5:07 left in the half, sophomore Payton Gruber drained a three-pointer to take a six point lead, 27-21.
A pair of shots from the foul line by sophomore Andrea Zalis and a basket from junior Tylere Goans brought the Blue Jays up by seven with 2:26 remaining in the half, but the Griffins scored seven to bring the game within two, 34-32. The Blue Jays held onto the lead and headed into halftime with the 38-34 lead.
The Blue Jays started the second half with an 11-4 run in the first four minutes, and Zalis' "and one" shot gave the team a 13 point advantage with 14:44 remaining in the game.
A jump shot by senior Danielle Smulczenski increased the lead to 16 points, but the Griffins slowly chipped away at the lead and brought the game back within six with just over six minutes to go.
Two more from the foul line by Zalis put the Blue Jays back up by 10, and the team maintained their lead for the final minutes, winning 78-68.
Haddox recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds in her double-double performance.
The Blue Jays shot 60 percent from the three-point line. Gatson went 4-6 from beyond the arc to assist in her 20 point game, while Theroff went 4-5 from the three-point line to total 13 points.
Zalis recorded nine boards and 13 points after going 9-11 from the foul line.
The Blue Jays travel back to St. Louis on Saturday to face Webster University at 1:00 p.m.
