Game Breakdown
The Westminster Griffins honored their seniors in style on Saturday afternoon, defeating Adams State 84-73 at Behnken Field House. The victory improved Westminster's record to 9-14 overall and 6-11 in RMAC play, while the Grizzlies fell to 19-7 and 13-3 in conference.
First Quarter
Westminster came out firing in the opening quarter, jumping to an early lead behind balanced scoring. The Griffins shot an impressive 64.71% from the field, connecting on 11-of-17 attempts. Madison Anderson got things started with a layup, and Teuila Nawahine added a three-pointer to push the lead to 5-0.
The Griffins led by as many as nine points in the first quarter, with Nisa Ellis providing a spark off the bench with 10 first-quarter points. Westminster took a 26-18 advantage into the second quarter despite Adams State's Kiiyani Anitielu hitting a late three-pointer to keep the Grizzlies within striking distance.
Second Quarter
Adams State fought back in the second quarter, but Westminster maintained control throughout the period. The Griffins' shooting cooled slightly to 38.46% from the field, but they connected on 2-of-4 from three-point range to maintain their cushion.
Ellie Mitchell hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 29-18, and the Griffins took advantage of Adams State turnovers to build their halftime lead. Westminster led 38-34 at the break, shooting 50.0% from the field for the half while holding the Grizzlies to 40.0%.
Third Quarter
The Griffins pulled away in the third quarter with another strong shooting performance. Westminster connected on 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range in the period. Klowie Pike caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting three three-pointers in the quarter to help extend the lead.
Mitchell added seven points in the quarter, and Westminster's defense forced multiple turnovers to create transition opportunities. The Griffins outscored Adams State 23-21 in the third quarter and took a 61-55 lead into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
Westminster sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, converting 14-of-15 attempts (93.33%). The Griffins made timely free throws down the stretch to keep Adams State at bay despite the Grizzlies' attempts to rally.
Mitchell, Pike, and Nawahine combined to go 10-of-11 from the charity stripe in the final quarter. Westminster's defense tightened when it mattered most, and the Griffins closed out the 84-73 victory on their home court.
Griffin Performances
Ellie Mitchell led all scorers with 21 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-10 from three-point range. The junior guard was perfect from the free-throw line, converting all six attempts, and added four assists and two steals in 36 minutes.
Klowie Pike and Teuila Nawahine each contributed 16 points. Pike shot 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range while adding five rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes. Nawahine was efficient with 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds with four assists in 23 minutes.
Nisa Ellis provided a huge spark off the bench with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds for a double-double. Ellis added three assists in 27 minutes of action.
Emily Evans recorded 8 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes, while Madison Anderson added 6 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 14 minutes.
Westminster dominated the glass, out rebounding Adams State 48-23, including a 12-8 advantage on the offensive boards. The Griffins converted those extra possessions into 13 second-chance points and shot 50.9% from the field for the game.
For Adams State, Taejhuan Hill led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Anitielu added 18 points. Jada Price contributed 13 points in the loss.
Up Next
The Griffins will look to build on this momentum as they continue RMAC play on Tuesday against Colorado Mesa.
