Box Score BOX SCORE

SALT LAKE CITY – The 10th-ranked Westminster women's basketball team opened the 2010 Westminster Fall Classic with a 65-54 win over Cal Baptist on Thursday afternoon. Westminster (5-1) overcame a poor shooting night with stellar defense to pick up a fourth consecutive win. The Griffins have now won 45 consecutive games against teams that have been unranked in the NAIA top 25.

Westminster shot just 34.5% from the field and were outrebounded 45-34; however they committed just nine turnovers and turned 21 Cal Baptist (2-1) turnovers into 15 points. The game was tied 26-26 at the intermission before the Griffins outscored the visiting Lancers 39-28 and turned it over just three times in the final 20 minutes.

“If we can take care of the basketball we will be in pretty good shape,” head coach JD Gustin said. “Those nine turnovers just jumps out at me right now.”

Michelle Pace led the Griffins with 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting. She also went 6 of 8 at the foul line and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Jenteal Jackson added 14 points and five rebounds while Allie Eastman had 13 points and five steals. Nicole Yazzie led the team with five assists with four steals.

“I think that is going to be an average for her,” Gustin said of the 20points scored by Pace. “She is real good and is starting to find a comfort zone. I think her best is yet to come.”

V.V. Vasciunaite led Cal Baptist with 12 points while Renetha Burton scored 11 points while collecting 15 rebounds. Cal Baptist shot 34.7% from the floor and just 57.1% from the foul line.

Westminster will return to action on Friday as they host the College of Idaho in the final game of the day. The action is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. from the Behnken Field House.