Strong Second Half Helps Blue Jays Dominate MacMurray

Jacksonville, Ill. –

After a slow start, the Westminster women’s basketball team blasted past MacMurray College to win, 75-50, Saturday afternoon. The Westminster Blue Jays improve their overall record to 11-11 and their St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) record to 9 -7.

“MacMurray placed hard for 40 minutes, but we were able to get a good lead and pull together as a team to maintain it in the second half,” commented freshman Andrea Zalis. “We are striving to get better every day and are looking forward to these next few games.”

The MacMurray Highlanders pulled an 8-3 lead five minutes into the game, but senior Leigh Ann Lutz hit a three-pointer and junior Danielle Williams followed with a jump shot to tie the game up at 8-8. The Highlanders did not give up the lead, scoring five unanswered points.

A 7-0 run by the Blue Jays took the 17-15 lead, and two three-pointers by Lutz gave them a six point lead, 23-17, with 5:59 left in the half.

The Blue Jays closed out the half with a 7-2 run, giving them the 33-23 lead heading into halftime.

“We had a sluggish start, but a great push at the end of the first half,” stated Head Coach Tracey Braden. “We just had to keep working and playing.”

The Blue Jays came into the second half and dominated. Sophomore Sadie Theroff hit two jumpers and a three-pointer and Lutz hit a three-pointer to give the Blue Jays a 15 point lead with 8:43 to play. They went 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute to close out the game with the 75-60 win.

The Blue Jays shot 46.2 percent from the field after shooting 54.2 percent in the second half. They finished the game with a 46.4 three-point percentage and 100 percent from the foul line after going 14-for-14.

“I was excited about our ball movement against MacMurray’s zone in the second half,” commented Braden.

Zalis went 7-for-15 for the day, hitting 5 three-pointers and leading the game with 21 points. Lutz went 6-for-14 from the three point line, adding 18 point to the win. Sophomore Mackenzie Haddox went 6-for-6 from the foul line and dished in five assists.  Williams pulled down 9 rebounds and had two blocks.

The Blue Jays host Webster University on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. This is their final conference home game, so the Blue Jays will be honoring senior Leigh Ann Lutz for Senior Night.

The Westminster Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be hosting a canned food drive throughout the games, so make sure to bring some cans and help us “can” hunger!