Griffins Open Five-Game Homestand to Close Season
The Westminster women's basketball team is back in the Behnken Field House this weekend to start a five-game homestand that will bring the season to a close. The Griffins begin the three-week stretch on Friday when they welcome undefeated and No. 3 Colorado State – Pueblo to town. They will then battle New Mexico Highlands on Saturday.
 
Both games of the weekend will tip at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available by visiting WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
 
The games will also be available live on the RMAC Network with Mike Lageschulte calling the action. RMAC Network is available online at RMACsports.tv and the video is optimized for viewing on portable devices. Live stats will also be available during the games. Links for all of the live features can be found at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster return home at 8-13 overall after splitting two games on the road last weekend. They have gone 6-11 in RMAC action to currently sit tied for 11th in the conference standings. The Griffins are 3-4 at home this season.
 
The Griffins are scoring 59.8 points per game and they are shooting 38.8 percent from the field. They make 6.7 3-pointers per game to rank sixth in the RMAC and are shooting 31.1 percent from beyond the arc. The team is third in the conference in foul shooting at 74.2 percent at the stripe.
 
Sydnee Taylor leads the Griffins in scoring at 11.4 points per game. Aubrie Vale is averaging 9.7 points per game while Denise Gonzalez is at 8.0 points per game. Vale leads the team with 32 made 3-pointers and Williams leads the team by shooting 86.8 percent from the line.
 
Westminster is giving up 65.4 points per game with opponents shooting 40.2 percent from the field. The opposition connects at 32.4 percent from three and the Griffins grab 34.8 rebounds per game. Westminster is ninth in the RMAC at 11.0 assists per game and they record 6.5 steals per outing.
 
Vale has a team-leading 127 rebounds and 60 assists. Taylor is second on the team with 78 rebounds and 27 makes from deep. Gonzalez has a team-best 35 steals and is fifth in the RMAC at 1.7 steals per game.
 
Road Warriors
The Griffins return to the Behnken Field House having played 11 of the last 15 games on the road. They traveled over 9,300 land miles during the year to play 16 games away from home including exhibition and neutral site games. The team is 5-9 in all countable games away from home this season.
 
Solid First Year
Sydnee Taylor currently leads the Griffins in scoring at 11.4 points per game and she has scored in double figures 11 times. Taylor has led the Griffins in scoring during five games this season with three 20-point performances. She is shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc with 27 makes. Taylor is second on the team with 78 rebounds while adding 30 assists and 18 steals.
 
Vale's Value
Aubrie Vale is second on the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game and she has scored in double figures 12 times. She has tallied one 20-point outing and been the team's leading scorer in five games. Vale leads the Griffins with 127 rebounds and 60 assists while adding 29 steals. She has four double-doubles this season and shoots 35.2 percent from the floor and 30.2 percent from three. During last weekend's road trip, Vale became the 27th player in school history to reach 500 career points as a Griffin.
 
Take the Rock
Denise Gonzalez is scoring 8.0 points per game to rank third on the team. She leads the Griffins with 35 steals and is fifth in the RMAC at 1.7 steals per game. Gonzalez has at least one steal in all but three games this season with multiple steals in a game 12 times. She currently ranks 24th in team history with 75 steals during her two seasons with the Griffins.
 
Williams Rolling
Sicilee Williams has been a steady performer for the Griffins all season and enters the weekend averaging 7.0 points per game. Williams scored in double figures during both games last weekend as has done so five times on the year. She is shooting 32.8 percent from beyond the arc and has a made 3-pointer in seven straight games. Williams shoots 86.8 percent at the foul line and has recorded 22 assists and 13 steals.
 
Opponent Info: No. 3 Colorado State – Pueblo
• CSU-Pueblo brings a perfect 24-0 record and No. 3 national ranking into Friday's game.
• The ThunderWolves are 18-0 in RMAC play and need one win to clinch the regular season title.
• Tuileisu Anderson averages 17.1 points per game to rank second in the RMAC.
• CSUP leads the all-time series 2-0 and they are 1-0 in SLC.
• They defeated the Griffins, 68-54, on December 10 in Pueblo.
 
Opponent Info: New Mexico Highlands
• Highlands enters Saturday with a 2-20 overall record and 1-8 on the road.
• The Cowgirls are 15th in the RMAC with a 1-17 record.
• Kaylani Maiava leads the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game.
• Westminster leads the all-time series 2-0 with a 1-0 mark at home.
• The Griffins won at Highlands, 60-52, on December 9.
 
Following the Griffins
Make sure to like Westminster Griffins on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and You Tube for the latest news about the Griffins. Game updates are provided on Twitter by following @wc_griffins. Fans can stay connected with Westminster women's basketball by following @westminster_womens_basketball on Instagram.
 
Looking Ahead
The Griffins will continue their five-game homestand with a game against Regis on February 18. The lone game of the week for the team will tip at 5:30 p.m. with tickets available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.