Box Score BOX SCORE

LAKE WALES, Fla. – Playing an NAIA competition for the first time in 24 days, the Westminster women's basketball team started strong and defeated Emmanuel (Ga.) College 70-49 on Tuesday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express Invitational. Westminster (10-4) scored the game's first nine points and held Emmanuel (7-4) to just 10 points during the first 11 minutes. The win is the sixth consecutive for the Griffins and a third consecutive in games away from home.

“Emmanuel is a very good basketball team and they played their tails off,” head coach JD Gustin said. “This is a huge win for us and I'm excited about it.”

Westminster had pushed the lead to 19 with 7:46 remaining in the opening half, only to see Emmanuel use a 13-2 run to cut the lead to 34-26 entering halftime. After exchanging baskets to open the second stanza, Westminster went on a 10-2 run to build a 47-31 lead. They put the game away with an 11-1 run that ended with a 62-40 lead with six minutes remaining.

“It's hard, this is a younger team, and when we got in foul trouble we lost our momentum,” Gustin commented. “I'm really happy with how we responded to that and how well our bench performed tonight.”

After shooting just 38.7% from the field in the first half, the Griffins responded by shooting 60.9% in the second to finish at 48.1% for the game. They went 12-for-24 from beyond the arc, the ninth time this season they have reached double figures in made three pointers. Defensively they limited Emmanuel to just 23.5% shooting and turned 16 turnovers into 24 points.

Freshman Nicole Yazzie celebrated her birthday by scoring 18 points and making four triples. Her final three came from 30-feet away as time expired on the shot clock. Yazzie added five rebounds and three assists to her final line.

Westminster had five players reach double figures in total. Keshia Catten and Dani Evans scored 12 points apiece while McKenzie Jessop and Allie Eastman each scored 11 points. Jessop also grabbed 11 rebounds, five steals, and four assists. This was her first career double-double as a Griffin.

Tenea Mann led Emmanuel with 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Mann connected three times from distance and was a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line. Ashley Jackson scored 10 points, doing most of her damage at the foul line. Jackson also controlled nine rebounds to lead the team.

Westminster continues play at the Holiday Inn Express Invitational with a 3 p.m. game against Union (Ky.) on Wednesday, December 30.