The Westminster women's basketball team began the new year with a 73-67 conference loss to Fontbonne University after being out-rebounded 45-29 on Saturday, January 2. The Westminster Blue Jays are now 2-2 in conference play and 6-4 overall.

The Fontbonne Griffins jumped out to a 7-2 lead four minutes into the first quarter, but layups from sophomore Brittany Morris and junior Andrea Zalis brought the game within one, 7-6.  The Griffins went 2-for-2 from the free throw line, but a 5-0 run gave the Blue Jays their first lead of the game with 52 seconds left on the clock. With 10 seconds left in the quarter, Fontbonne tied up the game with a layup to send the game into the second quarter knotted at 11-11. 

Despite a Griffin 7-0 run to start the second quarter, the Blue Jays managed to bring the game back within one after two good free throws from senior Kasey Gatson, 18-17. The Griffins struck an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, but junior Krista Armontrout halted the run with a layup. A jump shot by Gatson sent the game into halftime with the Griffins leading 29-24. 

The Griffins took a 10-point lead just over two minutes into the second half. They brought their lead to 12 points before senior Sadie Theroff drained two three-pointers within a minute to bring the Blue Jays within six, 51-45. Junior Payton Gruber drained a three with 25 seconds on the clock to put the score at 53-48, but the Griffins hit a shot at the buzzer to possess a 55-48 lead heading into the final quarter. 

After a 15-point lead was taken by the Griffins in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, Gatson and senior Mackenzie Haddox combined for 13 points over three minutes to bring the game within four points, 71-67. In the remaining 35 seconds, the Griffins added two points to the score and held the Blue Jays from hitting another shot to win the game 73-67.

Gatson led the Blue Jays with 15 points after going 6-for-6 from the foul line. Haddox and Theroff each finished in double-digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Zalis and Armontrout each pulled down six boards. 

The Blue Jays travel to Eureka, Illinois on Wednesday, January 6, for a conference game versus Eureka College at 4:00 pm.