FULLERTON, Calif. – The No. 4 Westminster women's basketball team opened its seven-game stretch away from home with a 61-46 win at No. 23 Hope International University (Calif.) on Friday night at Darling Pavilion.
 
Westminster (5-0) came out on fire as they shot 70 percent in the first half to lead 36-28 at halftime. They went just 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) in the second half, but Hope International (5-3) only made 26.7 percent after halftime and only scored 18 points.
 
Trailing 21-20 midway through the first half, the Griffins posted a 10-0 run to secure its largest lead of the half at 30-21 with 4:10 to play. After the lead was back to nine early in the second half, HIU scored eight of the game's next 10 points to get within 39-36 at the 13:37 mark. Westminster quickly got he lead back to eight after a hoop from Mika Pinner and a three by Alli Winters. A Pinner three with 8:09 left pushed the advantage into double figures where it stayed for the remainder of the game.
 
Westminster finished the game shooting 48.9 percent from the floor and they were 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Griffins had a 42-34 edge in rebounds with 18 assists on 23 field goals. They held HIU to just 30.8 percent shooting and forced them into 16 turnovers.
 
Amy Krommenhoek led all scores with 13 points and she added a career-high 10 assists for her first career double-double. Pinner had a career-best 12 points and Tia Pappas added 10 points an 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Amanda Hacking had nine points and 11 rebounds.
 
Talor Hixon led HIU with 11 points off the bench. The Royals forced 20 Griffin turnovers and they scored 22 points in the paint.
 
Westminster will return to action on Saturday when they face Biola University (Calif.) at 6 p.m. MT.