SALT LAKE CITY – It took an extra five minutes, but the Westminster women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing skid with a 63-57 overtime victory over Western State Colorado University on Friday night in the Behnken Field House.
 
It was a close game throughout as neither team led by more than five points during regulation. Westminster (7-11, 4-10 RMAC) led the entire fourth quarter and was ahead 50-47 after Natalie Parsons made a pair of free throws with 26.3 seconds to play.
 
Western State (4-12, 2-12) forced overtime when Taylor Long buried a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 9.7 seconds on the clock. Parsons had a chance for the winner at the other end, only to see the shot rim out.
 
After Western State scored the opening points of the overtime, the Griffins then scored seven straight points that began with a three from Aubrie Vale. The lead would twice get cut to two in the closing minute, but Westminster was able to secure the win by making 6 of 6 at the foul line.
 
Parsons finished the night with 13 points and four assists. She overcame 2 of 13 shooting by making all eight of her attempts at the foul line. The senior also had four rebounds and two steals.
 
Westminster only shot 33.9 percent as a team and they were 4 of 19 from beyond the arc. They got 14 points from 15 offensive rebounds and had 13 assists on 20 made baskets. Western State was held to 36.5 percent shooting and 4 of 18 from three.
 
Vale scored 12 points with six rebounds and three assists. Whitni Syrett had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Jessica Sorensen added nine points and 10 rebounds – seven offensive – with two steals.
 
The Mountaineers scored 32 points in the paint and they had four players score in double figures. Long led the team with 12 points and four assists.
 
The Griffins will return to the Behnken Field House court on Saturday when they face Colorado State – Pueblo at 5:30 p.m. MT. Tickets for that game are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.