Decatur, IL, 11/5/21 – The long-awaited Westminster College women's basketball season kicked off on Friday night when the team traveled to Millikin University to take on the Big Blue in the first game of the Millikin Tip-Off Tournament. The defending SLIAC Tournament Champions faced of against the defending CCIW Tournament Champions. The Big Blue broke to a double figure lead late in the first quarter and stretched it to 19 by the half. The Big Blue would go on to win 83-63 on their home floor. The Blue Jays fall to 0-1 after the opening loss while the Big Blue improve to 1-0.
The Blue Jays would have three players in double figures led by sophomore guard Shelby Kurtz (Camdenton, MO / Camdenton) with 16 points on 5-7 shooting 2-3 from three-point range and 4-7 from the free throw line. Junior forward Avylina Powell-Qualo (Republic, MO / Republic) followed with 13 points and junior forward Madison Schaeffer (Cincinnati, Ohio / Fairfield) chipped in 12 points. Schaeffer would lead the way on the boards with nine followed by Kurtz with six. The Big Blue would outrebound the Blue Jays 44-36 on the night. Senior guard Corrie Reece (Cape Girardeau, Mo. / Cape Central) led the way on defense recording three steals as well as Reese Arnold (Lonedell, Mo. / Washington) who also recorded three steals.
The Blue Jays would be outshot on the night by the Big Blue 44.1% to 36.4%. The Big Blue made 11 of 28 three-point shots compared to five for 16 for the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays went to the free throw line 34 times compared to Millikin's 16 attempts. The bad news for the Blue Jays is that they only managed to shoot only 52% from the free throw line.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they play their second game of the Millikin University Tip-Off Tournament. The Blue Jays will take on the Illinois College Lady Blues in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.
