Box Score SALT LAKE CITY – It wasn't the prettiest of games, but the Westminster women's basketball team came away with an 83-66 win over Great Falls in the opening round of the Frontier Conference Playoffs. No. 15 and top-seeded Westminster used 14-2 run in the first half to turn a 12-9 lead into a 26-11 advantage.
Dani Evans scored eight of her game-high 19 points during the run to help the Griffins (25-5) take control.
The 19 points by Evans are one off her career high set earlier this season against Great Falls (7-23). In fact, her top three scoring games have all come against the Argonauts. “I thought Dani was real big tonight, especially offensively,” head coach JD Gustin said. “I think she can do that any night.”
“We looked a little dead and I wanted to bring some energy,” Evans said. “They don't get up and press as much so I can find a few more open shots.”
Westminster scored just one basket during a nine minute stretch over the end of the first half and the start of the second. They stayed strong defensively and kept Great Falls at bay by forcing them into 28 turnovers. The Argos got as close as 40-36 before Westminster used a 13-2 run to put the game away.
“That is what we do,” Gustin commented. “We want to go on runs and we use our press to get those runs.”
Five players finished in double figures for the Griffins.
Elisa Leader scored 12 points,
Shannon Evans and
McKenzie Jessop had 11 each, and
Alexis Tucker chipped in 10. Westminster held a 41-29 advantage in bench points and a 16-2 advantage in fast break scoring.
Jocelyn Morre led Great Falls with 12 points and eight rebounds in her final game. Kassie Holmlund added 10 points and three assists. Great Falls grabbed 42 rebounds to 39 by Westminster and shot 43.9% from the field.
Westminster will now face Montana Western on Friday, March 6. Western is the seventh seed and earned the right to visit Salt Lake with a 52-50 win on the road against Montana State-Northern, the second seed. Tipoff on Friday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Behnken Field House.
