PORTLAND – The Westminster women's basketball team had two tough offensive quarters in a 60-53 loss to Saint Martin's at the Concordia Classic on Saturday afternoon.
 
Westminster (1-2) trailed by one after the first quarter despite scoring just six points. The Griffins won the second quarter 23-10 and took a 29-17 lead into halftime. They lead was 34-21 after a Whitni Syrett jumper with 7:10 to play in the third quarter before Saint Martin's (2-2) closed the period on an 18-3 run to lead 39-37 after 30 minutes.
 
KC Gubler scored in the paint with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull the Griffins level at 46-46. The Saints then ran off seven straight points and didn't let Westminster get closer than four the rest of the way.
 
"It took some time for both teams to get going tonight," Westminster head coach Shelley Jarrard said of the game. "We finished the first half well, but couldn't enough stops in the second half."
 
The Griffins shot 33.3 percent from the floor on the night and were 3 of 13 in both the first and third quarters. They connected on 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from beyond the arc and scored 12 points from 11 offensive rebounds. They took advantage if 14 SMU turnovers by converting them into 17 points.
 
Aubrie Vale was the only Griffin in double figures with 14 points. She hit 4 of 9 from three and grabbed four rebounds. Riley Reidhead and Sicilee Williams scored seven points apiece. Lancee Whetman led the team with six rebounds.
 
Saint Martin's shot 44.4 percent from the field and had three players in double figures. Mercedes Victor and Elin Johansson had 14 apiece to lead the team.
 
"We learned a lot about our team on this trip," Jarrard added of their 1-1 performance in Portland. "I am looking forward to a couple of games in Utah next week.
 
Westminster will be back in action on Tuesday with an exhibition game at Weber State. They play their first home game on Friday at 2 p.m. versus Dixie State. Tickets for the home opener are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.