The Westminster women's basketball team slipped past Spalding University in overtime in their conference opener, 73-72. The Westminster Blue Jays are on a three-game winning streak, bringing their record to 3-1.

"Spalding is a very physical team and has great balance," commented Head Coach Tracey Braden. "It was just figuring out how to outlast them and grind it out to the end."

Sophomore forward Brittany Morris added, "We played smart at times and hit some tough shots down the stretch."

The lead changed five times to start the game, but on the last lead change, Spalding sparked an eight-point run to take the 13-6 lead. Senior Kasey Gatson knocked down a jump shot to bring the game within five, 13-8. Spalding scored four to take a 17-8 lead, but senior Mackenzie Haddox laid up a shot to end the first quarter with the score at 17-10.

Baskets by junior Andrea Zalis and Gatson brought the game within three just a minute into the second quarter, 17-14. Spalding pulled back out to a eight-point lead before the Blue Jays made it on the board again. A three-pointer by senior Sadie Theroff and a layup from Morris brought the Blue Jays within three with 3:02 left in the first half, 26-23. Hadox put away two of her free throws to bring the game within one, 26-25, but Spalding made a shot to pull ahead by three. Junior Krista Armontrout went 1-2 from the foul line to send the game into halftime with Spalding leading by two, 28-26.

Zalis scored the first five points of the second half to give the Blue Jays a 31-28 lead over Spalding. Gatson also knocked down a three, forcing Spalding to call a timeout. Spalding then hit a 8-0 run to take back the lead. The Blue Jays knotted the game up twice, but Spalding came out ahead. With 17 second remaining in the third quarter, freshman Ali Perry made a layup to bring the Blue Jays within two, 46-44.

Gatson immediated tied up the game to start the fourth, and two free throws by Armontrout took the 48-46 lead. Theroff, Zalis and Gatson continued the 10-0 run, bringing the Blue Jays up by eight, 54-46. Two Spalding three-pointers and two free throws tied the game with 3:18 to play in regulation. The Blue Jays took back the lead, but Spalding knotted it back up with 17 second remaining. The Blue Jay's final shot attempt was missed, sending the game into overtime.

The lead changed twice to start the second half and Zalis put in a three to take a 67-66 lead with 3:42 to play. Haddox made a layup with 2:24 on the clock, but Spalding made two baskets to take a one-point lead. Armontrout made a layup to put the Blue Jays back up by one, 71-70, with one minute remaining. Spalding made both shots from the foul line to take the 72-71 lead, but Armontrout made another layup with 15 seconds to go to take the 73-72 lead. Spalding had two shot attempts in the final seconds, but missed both, ending the game with a 73-72 overtime win. 

Zalis led the floor with 18 points and three blocks while adding 10 rebounds for her fourth career double-double. Armontrout recorded her second double-double of the season after posting 15 rebounds and 11 points. Haddox finished with six assists.

The Blue Jays return home for their second conference game of the season on Saturday, December 5. They host Greenville College at 1:00 pm.