Box Score BOX SCORE
SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster women's basketball team picked up a 70-63 win over Concordia (Ore.) at the Westminster Tipoff Classic presented by Sports Med Utah on Friday night. The 10th-ranked Griffins overcame a 50-27 rebounding disadvantage to win for the second straight outing. Westminster is now 3-1 on the season while Concordia falls to 0-1.
“I thought we played really hard,” head coach JD Gustin said. “I am obviously disappointed with the fact that we gave up 24 offensive rebounds because that is what we did so well last week.”
Westminster got out to a quick start and led by 14 with 9:22 to play in the first 20 minutes. Concordia used a 19-6 run to end the half and trailed just 31-27 at the intermission. The visiting Cavaliers would take a one point lead twice in the first six minutes of the second half. However, Westminster would use an 11-4 run to take control of the game and eventually led 64-54 with 1:31 remaining in the game.
Westminster shot 42.3% from the field and made five three-pointer to combat the rebounding trouble. Although Concordia had 24 offensive rebounds they converted them into just 14 points. Westminster turned nine offensive rebounds into six points and held Concordia to 33.3% shooting. They also went 21 of 28 at the foul line and committed just seven turnovers in the decisive second half.
“We missed some shots,” Gustin stated. “We normally shoot the three well, but if we shoot 22 percent from three the game is going to be tough.”
Michelle Pace led the way with 13 points and seven rebounds. Pace shot 5 of 9 while also posting two assists, two steals and five blocked shots.
Jenteal Jackson added 11 points and three steals in her Griffin home debut. The bench came up big with 21 points sparked by
Brooke Larsen's nine. Larsen also grabbed seven boards. All eight Griffins that saw time scored at least six points.
Danielle Clauson and Rachel Scarpelli led the Cavaliers with 14 points apiece. Brittney Yates added 13 points and made three from beyond the arc. After going 3 of 6 from deep in the first stanza, Concordia shot 2 of 14 in the second half.
Westminster will return to action against Warner Pacific on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Behnken Field House.
