Box Score SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster women's basketball team had its 18-game winning streak snapped in the championship game of the Frontier Conference Playoffs against Lewis-Clark State on Monday night, 79-78. No. 15 Westminster (26-6) rallied from down 12 in the second half and held a 70-68 lead with 9.4 seconds to play, but Kenna Reiter hit a driving layup at 0.5 left to force overtime. In the extra session, Westminster went just 2-of-7 and had two turnovers in the final minute. No. 24 L-C (23-7) got two free throws from Niki DePeel with 10.7 seconds left to push the lead to four and seal the game. Elisa Leader hit a falling away three from 28-feet as time expired to cut the final deficit to one.

Westminster shot just 36.4% on the night, the second worst performance of the season. Leader and Alexis Tucker combined to shoot 5-of-26 for 21 points. Shannon Evans kept Westminster close with her 27 points and four makes from beyond the arc. McKenzie Jessop provided a spark off the bench with 16 points.

“Having never been in this situation before, I think maybe we force it a little,” head coach JD Gustin said. “That happens all over the country this time of season, but they played their hearts out defensively and that's all we can ask.”

Westminster couldn't seem to get back in the game during the first half. With the game tied at 17, L-C went on a little 17-8 run to end the half and hit big shots every time the Griffins got close. It appeared the second half was going to be the same, but finally with two Evans free throws at the 5:23 mark Westminster had the lead. Westminster eventually built the lead to four, but a 3-pointer by Kim Preston got it back to one before the final layup by DePeel.

Evans led the Griffins with her 10 rebounds and helped to a 42-35 rebounding advantage. They grabbed 18 on the offensive end and turned them into 20 points. Leader finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Kim Preston led three L-C players in double figures with 21 points. She was 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and 6-of-11 fin total. DePeel finished with 18 points off the bench and Sadie Short had 15. The Warriors shot 49.2% in the game and 53.8% in the second half.

Westminster now waits for an at-large bid from the NAIA for a trip to the national tournament. The bid will be released on Sunday, March 15 in the early afternoon. With a number 15 ranking and a 26-6 record, the Griffins are expected to receive one of the at-large bids for a third straight trip to the tournament.