Box Score BOX SCORE

SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster women's basketball team rallied from 10 points down in the first half to defeat No. 12 Lewis-Clark State 82-77 on Saturday night. The win gives No. 11 Westminster (24-5, 13-1) a second consecutive outright Frontier Conference championship and secures home court advantage throughout the upcoming Frontier Conference Tournament.

The Griffins jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the first two minutes of the game, only to see LC State (25-5, 11-3) dominate the next 13 minutes to build a 24-14 advantage with 5:25 remaining in the half. Westminster finished the half with a defensive blitz and cut the lead to two by halftime.

“We were so full of emotion with our seniors, and Allie (Eastman) being out, and the championship,” head coach JD Gustin said of the first 15 minutes. “It took us a little time to finally calm down.”

LC State carried a six point advantage through the early portion of the second half and led 52-46 with 11:12 to play in the contest. The next three minutes saw a Griffins 14-2 run to build a six point lead that they never relinquished. The lead grew to as much as 10 following a Nicole Yazzie three to beat the shot clock and then a Keshia Catten three from the corner with 1:36 to play. LC State got back to within three points at the 1:07 mark, only to see a scramble for a loose ball result in an Angela Fales layup to seal the championship.

“We finally got some defensive rebounds,” Gustin said. “The whole key to winning games like this is getting defensive rebounds and getting a little tougher and we did that during our run tonight.”

Westminster shot 48.1% from the field in the game, including 56% in the final 20 minutes. They went 13-of-29 from beyond the arc while collecting 37 rebounds to match the Warriors total. Defensively Westminster forced 10 turnovers and held LC State to just 39.1% shooting.

Yazzie led the way for the Griffins with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. She connected on four treys in the contest while adding seven rebounds and seven assists. McKenzie Jessop went for 20 points and nine rebounds in her final regular season game as a Griffin. Catten also hit double figures with 14 points.

“I can't say enough about our leadership this season,” Gustin commented on his seniors. “Catten and Jessop have been great and I am so proud of them and for this team to repeat as champions in this league is very impressive.”

Westminster now begins the 2010 Frontier Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will host eighth-seeded Great Falls on Tuesday, March 2 at 6 p.m. in the Behnken Field House.