Complete Release | PDF

SALT LAKE CITY – The fifth-ranked Westminster College women's basketball team will travel to Calif. for a pair of games against teams from the Golden State Athletic Conference. Westminster visits Biola (Calif.) on Friday at 8:30 p.m. MST at Chase Gymnasium. The Griffins then play at top-ranked Vanguard (Calif.) on Saturday at 1 p.m. MST from The Pit.

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Both games this weekend will be streamed live on the web and have live stats available. Links for all live features can be found by clicking here.

GRIFFIN NOTES
The Griffins, who are ranked fifth in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Top 25, are 3-0 to start a season for just the third time in school history. After defeating Mary (N.D.) in the season-opener, the Griffins claimed wins over No. 3 Westmont (Calif.) and College of Idaho at last weekend Westminster Fall Classic.

Westminster ranks 27th in the NAIA by scoring 78 points per game and they are sixth in the country by shooting 47.3 percent from the field. The Griffins have connected on 47.4 percent from beyond the arc to place second in the nation, while making nine threes per game. They average 18 assists per outing with a 1.93 assist-to-turnover ratio, the second-best in the NAIA.

The Griffin defense is allowing just 59.7 points per game and holding the opposition to 38.5 percent shooting. Westminster opponents make just 34.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Griffins are forcing 14.7 turnovers per game with 18 steals and they are scoring 23.7 points from those turnovers.

Six players are averaging double figures through the first three games led by Shelby Ellsworth at 14.7 points per contest. Alli Blake is scoring 11 points per outing with Kelsi Wells, Tia Pappas, Alli Winters and Amy Krommenhoek all averaging 10 points per game. Pappas leads the team with 20 rebounds and Blake has notched a team-best 17 assists.

NATIONAL RANKING
Westminster received 222 points and will start the season with a No. 5 national ranking after the national office released the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll on Tuesday. The Griffins pent all of last season ranked inside the top 10 and they have now been ranked in the top 25 for 24 consecutive polls dating back to Dec. 12, 2011.

THE BLAKE SHOW
Senior Alli Blake has been doing a little bit of everything for the Griffins this season. She is currently second on the team in scoring at 11 points per game and she shoots 51.9 percent from the floor. Blake has scored in double figures in two of the three games. She leads the squad with 17 assists and ranks 23rd in the NAIA with her 3.40 assist-to-turnover ratio. Blake has corralled 13 rebounds with nine of them coming on the offensive end while also getting two steals and one blocked shot.

WELLS A SCORING THREAT
Kelsi Wells looks to be the top scoring option for the Griffins this season. The senior was name Preseason All-Frontier Conference after scoring 10.3 points per game in league games last season. Wells notched a season-high 17 points in the win over College of Idaho on Saturday and she is scoring 10 points per game through the three games so far. She has grabbed a team-high 14 defensive rebounds and ranks second on the team with 16 total boards.

A LI-"TIA" BIT OF EVERYTHING
Junior Tia Pappas was selected Preseason All-Frontier Conference by the league coaches after averaging 8.1 points per game last season, The junior was named the sixth player of the year in the league last season when she was second in the league in steals at 2.27 per game and 16th in rebounding with an average of 5.3 per contest. Pappas led the team with 18 points in the opener against Mary and is currently averaging 10 points per game and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per night.

WELCOME BACK ELLSWORTH
Sophomore Shelby Ellsworth returns after sitting out last season with a knee injury. Ellsworth posted the first 20-20 game in school history when she had 23 points and 20 rebounds in a game versus Cal Maritime in 2010. This season, Ellsworth leads the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game and she is the only player to score in double figures in all three contests. She is shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 40 percent from deep with 13 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.

BENCH PRODUCTION FROM KROMMENHOEK
Amy Krommenhoek is scoring 10 points in 22 minutes per game off the bench this season. The junior has twice been in double figures, including a season-high 13 in the win over Mary. She making 45.8 percent of her total shot attempts and she ranks 27th in the NAIA by connecting on 53.8 percent from beyond the arc. Krommenhoek has also grabbed six rebounds with five assists and three steals.

A WINTERS WONDERLAND
Junior Alli Winters has been locked in from beyond the arc early this season. Through the three games, Winters is shooting 66.7 percent from beyond the arc to rank 11th in the country. After going 1-of-4 in the opener, Winters was perfect on three attempts against Westmont and then went 4-of-5 from deep against College of Idaho. Her 66.7 percent from deep is actually higher than the 62.5 percent she shoots overall. Winters also leads the team with her .866 true shooting percentage.

FOLLOWING THE GRIFFINS
To keep up with all of the latest news and information about the Westminster women's basketball team, fans are encouraged to "Like" the Griffins on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. And as always, make sure to visit WestminsterGriffins.com for all things Griffins during the 2013 season.

LOOKING AHEAD
Westminster remains on the road as they travel south in I-15 to Cedar City, Utah and a game with Southern Utah on Nov. 23. The action from the Centrum Arena will begin at 5 p.m. MST.