The Westminster women's basketball team achieved two key runs to lift them over Greenville College in their second conference game, 78-64. The Westminster Blue Jays are now 2-0 in conference play. They hold a 4-1 season record with their only loss coming from nationally ranked Washington University in their season-opener.
"We knew it would be a battle," stated Head Coach Tracey Braden. "Greenville has a quality team and our team knew we would have to match their physicality and rebound."
"I'm proud of the team for our no-quit attitude and am super excited about our second conference win," added junior guard Andrea Zalis. She recorded her second double-double of the season in the win with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Greenville Panthers put themselves on the board first, but a three-pointer from senior Kasey Gatson gave the Blue Jays a 7-5 lead. Greenville pulled back the lead, but Westminster tied the game up for the fourth time with 4:37 on the clock, 12-12. The Panthers made a jumper to take the lead and struck a six-point run to close out the first quarter with the 25-17 advantage.
With a good jumper, Greenville possessed a 10-point lead just a minute into the second quarter. The Blue Jays allowed the Panthers to score four of their six points of the second quarter in the first two minutes. With 8:06 left in the first half, the Blue Jays dominated Greenville with a 19-2 run to close out the half. The Blue Jays held a 39-31 lead heading into halftime.
"It took us a little bit to settle in defensively, but once we did we were able to go on a run," commented Zalis on the huge run to end the half.
Greenville came into the second half with a 13-point run to take a five-point lead just 5:36 in. A jumper by freshman Ali Perry stopped the Panther run and her free throw brought the Blue Jays within two, 44-42. A jump shot by senior Mackenzie Haddox knotted up the game. The lead changed twice more, and a Panther field goal knotted the game for the eighth time with 1:16 to play in the third quarter. Haddox scored the final points of the quarter after Zalis grabbed the steal to take a two-point lead heading into the final quarter, 52-50.
Two free throws by Zalis gave the Blue Jays a four-point cushion just 1:22 into the fourth quarter, but with five minutes to play, Greenville took a one-point lead. Two three-pointers by Zalis with a three by Haddox in between sparked the Blue Jay's 17-1 run to take the 75-62 lead. Greenville broke the run with 12 seconds to play, but the Blue Jays went 3-for-4 from the foul line to secure the 78-64 win.
The Blue Jays shot 45.8 percent from the field, including a 50.0 percentage in the first half.
"Our free throws sealed the game," commented Coach Braden. The Blue Jays went 16-for-19 from the line throughout the game, with 11-for-12 coming from the final quarter.
Haddox led the Blue Jays in three major categories including 23 points, five assists and three steals. She shot 9-for-15 from the field and 3-for-4 from the foul line. Zalis went 8-for-8 from the free throw line and recorded three steals on top of her double-double performance.
The Blue Jays take a break from conference play and face Division II Missouri S&T on Tuesday, December 8, in Rolla, Missouri. Tip-off is at 7:30 pm.
