Box Score SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The fourth-ranked Westminster College women's basketball team saw a last-minute rally go for naught as they lost 92-84 in double-overtime at 12th-ranked The Master's (Calif.) in the final game of the Jersey Mike's Classic on Saturday night.
Westminster (7-2) trailed by as many as 13 in the second half and were down by eight with one minute remaining before mounting a comeback to send the game into overtime.
Tia Pappas made a pair of threes in the final minute, including the game-tying basket with three seconds remaining.
Layups by
Alli Blake and
Shelby Ellsworth extended the Griffins run to 14 straight points as they opened up a 74-70 advantage. The Master's (10-3) would manage a rally of its own as they scored the final four points of the extra session to force a second overtime.
Nicole Nitake made a three with 2:12 left in the second overtime to give The Master's an 84-81 lead. Both teams would have an empty possession before the Mustangs' Zoe Scott connected from deep to push the lead to six with one minute remaining. The home squad would convert on free throws down the stretch to hold on for the victory.
The Griffins shot 45.7 percent from the floor in the game while making eight of their 26 attempted threes. They pulled down 39 rebounds and recorded 14 assists, but struggled taking care of the basketball with 23 turnovers. The Master's shot 46.3 percent from the field to help overcome 24 turnovers.
One night after scoring 19 points in a Griffin win, Blake came back with a new season-high 22 points. The senior was 9-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-5 at the foul line. She also pulled down eight rebounds and handed out seven assists in the loss.
Ellsworth added a season-best 19 points on a tough shooting night. She finished 9-of-25 from the floor and just 1-of-8 from 3-point territory while also pulling nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Pappas added 14 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Whitney Best led six Mustangs in double figures with 18 points. Jacquelin Marshall finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, making all five of her field goal attempts.
The Griffins will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Helena, Mont for a Frontier Conference game at 16th-ranked Carroll (Mont.) at 5:30 p.m. MST.
