SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—A senior night win for seniors Rian Rawlings and Kaitlin Toluono ensured the Griffins stayed in third, ahead of Colorado School of Mines, to finish the regular season. The Griffins defeated in-state rivals, 72-69, in an exciting game that came down to the final minutes.
 
"Such a tough battle tonight," Head Coach Shelley Jarrard said afterwards. "I'm happy we ended up on top and proud of our group and the plays they made at crunch time."
 
"Dixie is a very good team with high scoring potential. This one could have gone either way."
 
Westminster led by one at the end of the first quarter. The quarter was tight with the lead jumping back and forth several times between the teams.
 
Sarah McGinley hit two three-pointers in a row to begin the second quarter and the Griffins jumped ahead by eight. Dixie reduced the lead to three with a pair of baskets, but the Griffins quickly rebuilt their lead with threes from Kaylee Carlsen and McGinley. The Griffins could have entered the half up by 15 but a foul on the shot but a foul sent Madi Loftus to the strip and she hit all three.
 
Westminster maintained a double-digit lead for most of the third period. A scoreless period in the final three minutes allowed the visitors to make an 8-0 run finishing the quarter and tying the game, 53-53.
 
The game stayed close until the end with score tied five times and no lead greater than a couple of possession.
 
Abby Mangum made the play-of-game stealing the ball from Chesney Stevens with 2:03 remaining. Mangum was fouled by Stevens as she drove to the basket for a transition layup. Mangum made both to put the Griffins ahead.
 
Dixie tied the score one last time, 72-72, but a layup from Krebs, a Dixie turnover and a three from Carlsen saw the Griffins across the line for the win.
 
The Griffins went 11-22 from beyond the arc and shot 54.2 percent. Hunter Krebs made five threes to lead all-scorers with 21 points. McGinley went 4-5 for 14 points from three and Karlsen went 2-4 for 10.
 
The Griffins host South Dakota School of Mines on Tuesday at 7 pm MST in the RMAC Quarter-Finals.