NAMPA, Idaho - Westminster women's basketball (1-0) had four players in double figures as the Griffins shot 52 percent from the field for the game to beat Central Washington (2-1), 78-71, on Friday night at the Johnson Sports Center. The season-opening win was the first-career win for
Jenteal Jackson in her first game as Westminster women's basketball head coach.
Griffins point guard
Ashley Greenwood put up the first Westminster double-double of the season with a 22-point, 12-rebound night to go along with four assists on 9-of-14 shooting that included 2-of-2 from three-point range.
Abby Mangum also filled up the box score, pouring in 18 points on top of seven assists with zero turnovers.
Rae Falatea finished with 17 points offensively and
Sarah McGinley went 6-of-7 at the charity stripe to finish with 12 points on the night.
Westminster came out with a dominant first quarter offensively and shot 11-of-17 (65 percent) from the field as a team en route to a 25-13 lead after the first ten minutes.
The 12-point lead after the first intermission would be the largest of the game for Westminster as they were held to just 4-of-13 (31 percent) shooting in the second quarter. Washington cut into the Griffins' lead and the two teams went into halftime with Westminster ahead, 34-29.
Westminster didn't allow a Wildcats' bucket for over three minutes to start the third quarter as Westminster grew its lead to as many as 11 midway through the quarter. Central Washington would steal the momentum back, however, and closed the third out on a 9-3 run to get back within three.
The Griffins continued to hit shots in the fourth and Central Washington was unable to keep up and finished 3-of-11 (27 percent) from three-point-range as a team in the final frame. Westminster pulled ahead by double digits down the stretch and ultimately closed out the seven-point win from the free throw line in the final seconds.
Westminster will be back on the same court tomorrow night as it takes on tournament hosts, Northwest Nazarene, beginning at 7 p.m.
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