Westminster Starts Conference 1-0 With 79-70 Win Over Webster

by Brittany Hodge

The Westminster women’s basketball team defeated Webster University Wednesday evening 79-70. The win brings the Westminster Blue Jays to 2-2 on the season and gives them their first win in the conference.

“Webster is a really good team, and Harris and Endicott are two of the best posts in the SLIAC ,” stated Head Coach Tracey Braden. The Webster Gorloks move to 4-3 on the season after the loss.

The Blue Jays started the game with a 5-0 run. The Gorloks kept the game close until 3:33 left in the first half, but junior Mackenzie Haddox sank two free throws starting a 7-0 for the Blue Jays. The run put the score at 29-20. The Gorloks scored four points to put them back in the game, but junior Kasey Gatson drilled a three pointer with 25 seconds left in the half. She hit another jumper with 4 seconds left to bring the score to 37-24 at halftime.

Harris dropped a shot in just 12 seconds into the second half, but Westminster answered with a three by sophomore Sadie Theroff to extend their lead to 14 points. Westminster kept their lead over 10 points until 9:07 left in the second half. The Gorloks hit a jumper to bring the game within nine.

Webster sank two free throws and a three with under two minutes remaining in the game to bring the Gorloks within six points, the closest they could get in the second half. In the final minute and a half, Westminster held the Gorloks enough to end the game with a 79-70 victory.

“This game was a great start to our conference schedule,” says Theroff. “It gave us great momentum and confidence to carry us into Saturday and the rest of the season.” Theroff finished the game with 16 points and 2 assists.

Haddox led the Blue Jays on offense with 17 points. Sophomore Andrea Zalis led the Blue Jays on defense with 8 rebounds.

“We had great energy from the start, and we did a nice job with both our inside and outside game,” added Coach Braden.

The Blue Jays travel to Greenville College on Saturday, December 6 to take on the Panthers at 1:00 pm.