SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster women's basketball team snapped its longest losing streak in eight years with a 71-49 win over South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on Saturday night in the Behnken Field House.
 
Westminster (5-6, 2-5 RMAC) opened the game with a 14-3 run in the first 5:39 of action. After South Dakota Mines (5-6, 2-5) got back within 10, the Griffins closed the first quarter with 14 straight points to lead 31-7 after the first quarter. The 31 points are the most the team has scored in a quarter this season.
 
The lead stayed above 20 for most of the following three quarters as neither team scored more than six straight points at any point of the final three quarters.
 
One night after struggling to make shots, the Griffins made 51.9 percent from the floor on Saturday. They tied a season high with 10 made 3-pointers and connected on 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. The team was also a perfect 7 of 7 at the foul line.
 
Natalie Parsons led the Westminster effort with 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting. She made three of her four attempts from beyond the arc and had one assist, one block, and one steal.
 
South Dakota Mines finished the game shooting 42 percent from the floor, but they were only 3 of 19 from three. The Griffins forced 18 turnovers which they converted into 32 points. Westminster had a 29-28 edge on the boards and totaled 17 assists with 12 steals and five blocked shots.
 
Aubrie Vale finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four steals. Jessica Sorensen added 10 points and six rebounds while Mika Pinner had seven points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and four blocked shots.
 
Megan Rohrer led SDMST with 13 points, four rebounds and two steals. Kahlie Peterson had 10 points.
 
Westminster will spend next weekend on the road with the first of two games coming on Friday at UC Colorado Springs.