They’re on a roll, and now that the No. 15 Westmont women’s basketball team has a former star back in the lineup they might just roll faster.
Ali Mooty had five points in her return to the floor from an extended personal absence and Jessica Case poured in 17 points as the Warriors — the Golden State Athletic Conference’s top defensive team — shut down No. 17 Cal Baptist — the top offense in the GSAC — 73-56 Tuesday at Murchison Gym.The Lancers (10-4, 2-2 GSAC) entered the game averaging a whopping 83 points per game, but the Warriors (11-1, 3-1) didn’t play intimidated by any means. The visitors shot under 30 percent from the field, and deadly scorer Nicole Davis was held seven points under her average with 11.
“We really believe that defense wins championships, and we just got after it… I thought we did a really good job of not letting them get momentum early,” said coach Kirsten Moore. “We just want to keep building on this.”
The Warriors set a goal of taking three charges during the game and they did just that with Case, Ali Lomax and Lindsey Chessum hitting the floor and drawing the whistle against the hard-charging Lancers.
Mooty, who set the school’s single-season scoring and rebounding records during the 2006-07 season, was notably excited to be back in action after the game.
“I’m just really thankful. It was a ton of fun out there,” she said. “As much as people my not understand why I chose to take time off, I’m really glad to see the role that other people have gotten to take.”
Moore was also pleased that her one-time star was back.
“The great thing bout Ali is that she really respects this team and what this team is doing,” said Moore. “The reason this is going to work is because of the kind of person that Ali is. She’s incredibly gifted on the court but I think her biggest attribute is her communication and leadership.”
