The Iowa Wesleyan Tigers handed the Westminster Blue Jays their first loss since January 17th on Wednesday evening. The 79-58 loss moved the Tigers into second place in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) and the Blue Jays into third with a 13-3 conference record. They are 16-6 on the season.
"Tonight doesn't define who we are or diminish what we have accomplished," stated junior guard Kasey Gatson. She went on to say "we're going to use it to motivate us and propel us forward moving into these final regular season games and the conference tournament."
The Blue Jays have already secured a spot in the SLIAC Tournament.
The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Blue Jays were able to get on the board with a three-pointer by Gatson. Sophomore Krista Armontrout scored three consecutive baskets to bring the game to 10-9, Iowa Wesleyan.
Iowa Wesleyan pulled ahead by five, but another three by Gatson put the Blue Jays within two, 20-18. The Tigers then hit two threes to take an eight point lead with 7:27 left in the half.
The following five minutes were scoreless. The Tigers hit a bucket with 2:34 on the clock to break the silence, and another to take a 13 point lead. Sophomore guard Payton Gruber hit a three with 16 seconds to go to send the Blue Jays into halftime down by eight, 33-25.
Coming into the second half, Iowa Wesleyan increased their lead to 12, but Armontrout hit two from the foul line to get within six. In the final 10 minutes, the Tigers hit six three-pointers to help jump out to a 21 point win, 79-58.
The Tigers shot 51.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from the arc compared to the Blue Jays' 37.5 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from the arc.
Armontrout went 6-8 from the field and 7-9 from the line to score a career high 19 points. Gatson and Theroff added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Armontrout and junior Sadie Theroff led the game with seven boards each. Junior Mackenzie Haddox dished in five assists and sophomore Andrea Zalis had three blocks in the loss.
The Blue Jays host Spalding University on Wednesday, February 18, for their final home game of the season. They will celebrate their three seniors at the end of the women's game.
