LAS VEGAS – The No. 4 Westminster women's basketball team opened a three-game weekend at the Frontier Conference Las Vegas Shootout by defeating Hope International (Calif.), 65-41, on Thursday at Durango High School.
 
With nine straight wins to start the season, Westminster is off to its best start in school history. The previous record was an 8-0 start set during the 2008-09 campaign.
 
Westminster carried a 31-21 lead into halftime after holding Hope International (7-4) to just 27.6 percent shooting. The Griffins would then shoot 58.3 percent in the second half to pull away for their second win of the season against HIU.
 
Tia Pappas led the Griffins in scoring with 15 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She went 6-of-11 from the floor and handed out seven assists. Amy Krommenhoek finished with 12 points and four assists with Amanda Hacking adding 11 points.
 
The Griffins finished the game shooting 50.9 percent from the field and they were 3-of-15 from beyond the arc. They totaled 16 assists on 27 field goals and only committed 10 turnovers. HIU was held to 28.6 percent shooting in the game with 11 turnovers for 16 Westminster points.
 
Krystyn Jacobs led HIU with 13 points on a 6-of-18 shooting night. Emily Terwilliger added eight points and seven rebounds.
 
Westminster returns to action on Friday with a 6:30 p.m. MT contest against No. 5 Campbellsville (Ky.).