After starting the game with a 26-2 run, Westmont Women’s Basketball held on to post a 72-71 Golden State Athletic Conference victory over the Eagles of Concordia in Irvine. Westmont led by as much as 28 points (42-14) when Elizabeth Evancoe hit a three-pointer with 7:29 remaining in the first half.
Senior guard Jessica Case, who was celebrating her birthday, scored 10 of the Warriors first 26 points on two long-range shots and two baskets from within the arc.
The Eagles, however, dominated the rest of the half, outscoring the Warriors 20-4 to narrow the lead to 12 (46-34) at the half.
“Basketball is definitely a game of runs, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it like that before,” said Westmont Head Coach Kirsten Moore. “That was a pretty crazy basketball game. The way we came out and the focus we played with to get the lead we did at the beginning of the game and the beginning of the second half was incredible. Concordia showed incredible resiliency to continue to fight back, chip away at the lead and go on a bunch of runs of its own. It was a fun basketball game to be a part of.”
Westmont started off the second half with a 9-0 run to push their advantage to 19 points (55-36). Senior point guard Amber Stevens recorded three field goals in the run.
“Amber was great tonight,” reported Moore. “She was eight for 11 from the floor with 19 points and seven rebounds. She played with a lot of composure and a lot of fight.”
Once again, the Eagles started whittling away at the lead, pulling within two points with 5:21 to play when Kayanna Nichols nailed one of her five three-pointer to make the score 63-61.
“A lot of [the game’s streakiness) was predicated on three-point shooting,” said Moore. “We hit a bunch of threes during our runs and Nichols, who is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, got hot and hit threes for them which sparked their runs. The three in women’s basketball is what the dunk is in the men’s basketball as far as momentum.”
Layups by Case and Stevens and a free throw by Stevens put the Warriors back up by seven (68-61) with 3:25 remaining in regulation. Once again, however, the Eagles narrowed the gap as Lauren Sahli converted a jumper and then made two free throws to make it a 68-65 game.
With 2:03 remaining, senior post Alisha Heglund (10 points, 4 rebounds) fired up a shot from beyond the arc and recorded her fifth three-pointer of the year to increase the Warriors’ cushion to six points (71-65). Again, the Eagles responded. Nicole Fu hit a jumper and then scored twice from the charity stripe to make it a 71-69 game. Then Tyler Howard laid the ball through the hoop on a fast break to tie the score at 71 with 19 seconds left on the clock. Stevens fouled Howard on the layup, but Howard missed the free throw that would have put the Eagles in the lead for the first time in the game.
The Warriors brought the ball up the court and with the clock running down. Case drove for the basket and was fouled by Nicholas. The shooting guard made the first of two attempts and gave Westmont a 72-71 advantage with three seconds to play.
“Jess started the game hot and got a couple of threes early,” said Moore. “I was proud of her stepping up to the free throw line in a situation with a lot of pressure. She hit that first one and took the pressure off. It was a fun birthday present for her.
“At the end of the game, we were trying to switch up defenses and do whatever we could to stop the momentum because they definitely had it down the stretch,” continued Moore. “We were trying to do whatever we could to make a play or two and hold on for the end. Alisha’s three was huge.”
With a one point lead and 2.7 seconds left, the Warriors just needed to keep the ball out of the Eagle’s hoop.
“We had experience from our Redlands game,” said Moore. “We learned from that experience and were a lot more aware out there of what we were doing defensively to make sure they didn’t get a last second shot off.”
The effort was successful. The win gave the Warriors a 13-7 overall record and a 6-6 mark in GSAC play.
“A big difference in the game – and I think why we won – was our effort on the boards,” said Moore. “We out-rebounded them and had 17 offensive rebounds. Katie Kittle led us on the board and had a great effort with nine rebounds, 10 points, five assists and four steals. I’m proud of the fight that our team showed and the resiliency to pull out a big win on the road. We want to keep building on the momentum.”
The Warriors return to action on Saturday night when they will host the Royals of Hope International at Murchison Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
