The winning streak extends to seven games for the Westminster women's basketball team after Wednesday's 63-55 victory over Greenville College. After the fourth quarter run to win the game, the Westminster Blue Jays are now tied for first place in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) with a 9-2 conference record and a 13-4 overall record.
"We love playing Greenville because of their competitive spirit and sportsmanship," stated senior guard Kasey Gatson. "We knew they were going to give us a good game and that we'd have to play a full 40 minutes."
"I am really proud of our team for staying poised," said Head Coach Tracey Braden. "The way the team handled the end of the game showed leadership and confidence. It was up and down, back and forth most of the game." The Blue Jays outscored the Panthers 21-2 in the final 7:49 of the game to pull out the win.
The Greenville Panthers scored the first points of the game and held the lead throughout the first half despite the Blue Jays knotting the game up three times. With 1:32 left in the first quarter, the Panthers scored a bucket to take a 14-12 lead, but with 00:02 on the clock, freshman Ali Perry made a jump shot to send the game into the second quarter with the score at 14-14.
Two good baskets by junior Krista Armontrout to start the second quarter gave the Blue Jays their first lead of the game. The Blue Jays extended their lead to six points with senior Sadie Theroff's jump shot, but the Panthers pulled back within two points with five minutes left in the first half. A three-point play by Armontrout put the Blue Jays back up, and senior Mackenzie Haddox made a jumper to put the Blue Jays up by seven with 1:36 to play. The Panthers outscored the Blue Jays 6-2 in the final minute, leaving the Blue Jays up by just three heading into halftime, 29-26.
The third quarter started with three lead changes, and an 8-0 Panther run put them up by six, 43-37. The Blue Jays brought the game within three points with under a minute to play in the third quarter, but the Panthers put in two baskets to take a 49-42 lead heading into the final quarter.
"Our defense in the fourth quarter is what won it for us," stated Gatson about the Blue Jays outscoring the Panthers 21-6 in the fourth.
The Panthers took an 11-point lead to start the fourth quarter, but the Blue Jays scored five to bring them within six points. The Panthers broke the run with a jumper, but Armontrout quickly put in a basket to start a 16-0 run. The Blue Jays held the Panthers from scoring again, ending the game with a 63-55 win.
"The team showed great discipline tonight as they finished with a season low five turnovers," commented Coach Braden.
Armontrout led the offense with 23 points with nine field goals and five free throws. Haddox added 13 points to the win and finished with four assists. Gatson pulled down eight boards while grabbing three steals.
"Tonight was a collective commitment from everyone to buckle down and get hard-nosed stops. Our bench was 'in' the game and when we're playing 17 on 5 no one can beat us," added Gatson.
The Blue Jays travel to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa on Saturday, January 30, for a conference game versus Iowa Wesleyan, the other number one team in the SLIAC. Tip-off is at 1:00 p.m.
