The Westminster women's basketball team won their 13th consecutive win and 13th game with a 10+ point win with Wednesday's 74-57 win over MacMurray. The Westminster Blue Jays are now 19-4 on the season and 15-2 in conference play, earning the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title outright.
"I'm really proud of this team," exclaimed Head Coach Tracey Braden. "They've worked super hard all year and never lost their focus or commitment to each other. They are a determined group of women!"
After a 6-5 lead, senior Sadie Theroff jump-started a 9-0 run to take a 15-5 lead. MacMurray outscored 7-2 in the final four minutes of the first quarter to put the game at 17-12 heading into the second quarter.
MacMurray brought the game within three at the start of the second quarter, but junior Krista Armontrout scored three to put the Blue Jays up 20-14 with seven minutes on the clock. With 2:22 on the clock, MacMurray brought the game within five points again, but freshman Mirrakohl Johnson and junior Andrea Zalis each hit a jump shot to send the game into halftime with the Blue Jays leading 29-20.
"The energy out of halftime was really good; I think our pressure wore on them," added Coach Braden. "The ladies looked for opportunities to double or trap, and after halftime we had a couple of really great buckets off MacMurray's turnovers and in transition."
The Blue Jays had a 6-0 run to start the second half. MacMurray paused the run by making a three-pointer, but the Blue Jays followed with a 5-0 run to take a 40-23 lead. The Blue Jays outscored MacMurray 28-14 in the third quarter, taking a 57-34 advantage.
Zalis made a layup to start the fourth quarter, followed by two jump shots by Armontrout to take a 29-point lead, 63-34. The Blue Jays held onto the 29-point lead with senior Kasey Gatson's free throw with 5:52 left in the game, but MacMurray outscored the Blue Jays 16-4 in the final minutes to end the game with the score 74-57.
Armontrout led the Blue Jays with 23 points after going 10-19 from the field and pulled down nine rebounds. Gatson grabbed nine rebounds including eight defensive boards. Senior Mackenzie Haddox finished with nine assists and four steals.
The Blue Jays close out the regular season at home on Saturday, February 20, with senior day versus Principia College. The five seniors will be honored at in between the women's and men's game, approximately 2:30 pm.
