1/11/2024 Elsah, IL- The Westminster College women's basketball team traveled to Elsah, Illinois for their first road game of 2024 to take on the Principia College Panthers. The Panthers would score the go-ahead basket in the last minute to win the game 55-54. Principia improved to 8-6 on the season and 5-2 in the SLIAC. Westminster falls to 5-9 on the year and 3-4 in the SLIAC.
Both teams would start slowly, with neither team scoring until they got two minutes into the first quarter. The Blue Jays got out to an early 3-0 lead; the Panthers would return at the end of the quarter to take an 8-5 lead heading into the second period.
Both offenses would start to click in the second quarter, scoring a combined 33 points. A three-pointer from Trishelle Porter would give the Blue Jays a 21-10 lead with 6 minutes before halftime. The Panthers would rally and go on to 12-3 and ended the half trailing only two points, 24-22.
Principia would tie the game coming out of halftime scoring on their opening possession to tie it 24-24. The two teams would spend the 3rd quarter trading baskets, the lead, and tying the game. After a flurry of offense, the Blue Jays went into the final quarter leading 41-38.
The Panthers would continue to hang around, tying the game 41-41 in the opening minutes of the quarter. Westminster would keep the other hand until Principia took the lead for the first time since the first quarter to make it 51-50. The Blue Jays would regain the lead after a layup. Olivia Hixson made it 54-53 with under two minutes remaining. Westminster would have three tries to extend their lead but could not capitalize. The Panthers would grab a defensive rebound with 56 seconds remaining and would call timeout. After the timeout, Principia would score the go-ahead basket to take a 55-54 lead. Westminster would call a timeout of their own to draw up a play to try to regain the lead. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays turned the ball over after the timeout, forcing them to foul and extend the game. Principia would miss both free throws, but with only five seconds remaining, the Blue Jays could not get a shot off at the buzzer for a potential game-winner. There would be 14 ties and 18 lead changes in a very back-and-forth game that could have gone either way.
Senior forward Avylina Powell-Qualo would lead the Blue Jays with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Annette Ramirez would score points, grabbed 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and had 4 steals. Caragan Lockard would have 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Westminster will be back in action on Saturday, January 13th when they host Eureka College at 1:00 pm.
