Box Score BOX SCORE | TOURNAMENT LEADERS

SALT LAKE CITY – McKenzie Jessop sunk two free throws with 6.8 second remaining to give the Westminster women's basketball team a 93-91 win over the College of Idaho on Friday night. Westminster (3-1) trailed for much of the night, and Jessop's freebies gave the Griffins their first lead since the 18:35 mark of the second half. The two point win is the first single-digit win since a seven point victory over Montana Western last February.

The College of Idaho (1-1) led by as many as eight in the second half, including with 3:07 to play in the game. Westminster outscored the Yotes 11-1 during the final three minutes, thanks to a 3-pointer apiece from Dani Evans, Keshia Catten, and Jessop. Jessop then grabbed a Marqu Gilliam-Hicks miss and was fouled trying to break the press with 6.8 remaining. Gilliam-Hicks got a good look from the right elbow at the buzzer, but it rimmed off to seal the Griffins victory.

“This is the first time we have won a close game in a long time,” head coach JD Gustin said after. “We were resilient and we kept fighting and I thought they showed a lot of heart.”

Westminster had six players in double figures, including all five starters. They got big nights from the freshman that played, including 12 points and eight rebounds from Olivia Pierce-Eiselein. Pierce-Eiselein used her size advantage to continue and draw fouls in the first half, going to the line 10 times. In the second half, she was able to get better position and convert 3-of-5 layup opportunities.

“They are going to be special for us and they are only going to get better,” Gustin commented about the freshmen. “Olivia is just touching the surface and she is going to be special.”

Freshman Nicole Yazzie made her first career start to help combat the College of Idaho full court pressure defense. Playing unfazed by the pressure, she finished the game with 11 point, eight assists, six steals, and only two turnovers. As a team, Westminster committed just 19 turnovers, by far the fewest they have had against the Yotes under coach Gustin.

Jessop and Keshia Catten tied for the team lead with 17 points apiece. Catten added eight assists while Jessop grabbed six rebounds. Dani Evans finished with 16 points and freshman Allie Eastman scored 12 points and corralled eight rebounds, seven on the offensive end.

Westminster forced the College of Idaho into 30 turnovers, but the Yotes shot 56.9% from the floor and went 10-of-15 from beyond the arc. Nicole Gall led the all players with 27 points and had seven rebounds. Gall was 7-of-10 on triples in 37 minutes. Nicole Bruce added 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

“They made a lot of shots,” Gustin said of the Yotes. “They have a big time player (Gall), she is one of the best in the country. Give coach Rossi a lot of credit because she had them ready to play.”

Westminster wraps up play at the Fall Classic on Saturday when they face No. 18 Westmont at 4:00 p.m. in the Behnken Field House.