SALT LAKE CITY—A rematch of the RMAC Championship Quarterfinals, #3 seed Westminster will face the #6 seed Black Hills State (BHSU) in the first round of the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Championship. The West region is being hosted by Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo.
The Griffins have made the NCAA tournament for a third consecutive season. In their first appearance, they lost to Angelo State, 61-76. Last year the women's team was moments from playing Colorado Mesa in the first round when the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Earlier This Season
The Griffins and Yellowjackets played twice this season—one at Black Hills and once at Westminster. Westminster lost both meetings by narrow margins.
The Griffins played their first game of 2021 at Black Hills after three earlier games were postponed due to COVID-19. The Griffins took the lead in the second quarter and led through the third. With three minutes left in the four quarter, Black Hills went on an 8-1 run to win the game by three, 71-68.
The Griffins (11-5, 11-4 RMAC) hosted the Yellowjackets (14-8, 12-8 RMAC) in the first round of the RMAC Championship on Mar. 2. The Griffins trailed for most of the game and nearly came back in the fourth quarter outscoring the Yellowjackets 26-16. Black Hills went on to defeat Western Colorado in the semifinals. The final was called due to COVID-19 protocols and Black Hills was crowned the RMAC Champions.
History: Griffins vs Yellowjackets
Westminster has won twice in the eight-game history since the 2015-16 season when the Griffins joined the RMAC and began its transition to division II athletics.
Westminster lost the first four games with Black Hills. Westminster's first win came on Dec. 7, 2018 at Black Hills. Westminster won by three, 92-89. They won by 16 the next year (Dec. 6) at home.
Both games this season have been decided by five or fewer points. Black Hills came back in the fourth quarter to defeat the Griffins, 71-68, in Westminster's first game of the season. Reversed roles in the RMAC Championship Quarterfinals, Westminster nearly came back but finished a little short, losing 66-71 to the eventual RMAC Champions.
Scouting Westminster vs Black HIlls
Westminster's
Sarah McGinley and
Hunter Krebs, and Black Hills' Racquel Wientjes scored in double-digits both times this year. McGinley led the Griffins both games with 23 in the first and 21 in the second. Wientjes led all scorers with 28 and 22 in the first and second game, respectively.
The Griffins out rebounded the Yellowjackets in both games. McGinley grabbed nine rebounds in the first game and 10 in the second game to lead all players. Krebs and
Mariah Martin both grabbed eight rebounds in the first game and
Abby Mangum grabbed seven in the second game. Wientjes and Ashlee Beacom grabbed seven and six rebounds, respectively, for the Yellowjackets in the first game. Megan Engesser and Katie Messler each grabbed five in the second game.
The Griffins rank second in the nation in field goal percentage (48.2), seventh in free throw percentage (79.6) and is the top ranked offense in the RMACE, averaging 70.8 points per. Mcginley leads the team with 13.9 points per game shooting 51.7% from the field. Krebs leads the team shooting 53.9% from the field for 13.9 points per game. Martín is the third on the team with 11.8 points per game.
Lyndzi Rich and
Abby Mangum aren't far from double-digit points, scoring 9.6 and 9.4 ppg and shooting 50.9% and 47.4%, respectively.
Westminster's defense ranks sixth in the RMAC, allowing 64.0 points per game. The Griffins are the second ranked rebounding defnese (33.8). McGinley and Martín lead the team in rebounds, averaging 5.7 per game. Krebs is averaging 5.6, Rich 4.9 and Mangum 4.4.
Black Hills averages 64.9 as the eight ranked RMAC offense and third in defense, allowing 61.5 points per game. Wientjes leads the Yellowjackets in scoring with 19.7 points per game shooting 41.9% from the field. Engesser scores 11.2 points per game shooting 49.4% from the field.
Wientjes, Engesser and Messler lead the Yellowjackets underneath the basket in rebounding. Wientjes averages 5.9 rebounds per game and Engesser and Messler both average 3.7.
Links for the live stream and live stats are available one the women's basketball schedule at www.westminstergriffins.com.
