Junior forward Tugce Canitez recorded her first double-double as a Westmont Warrior, scoring 23 points and pulling down 10 rebounds as the No. 20 Westmont women’s basketball team defeated Rocky Mountain (Mont.) by a score of 74-65.
The Warriors are now 3-0 after winning two games at the Westminster Tipoff Classic in Salt Lake City.
“It was another tough fought game,” reported Westmont head coach Kirsten Moore. “It was a great first half in which we had our high-low game working with our posts. Tugce had an incredible first half with 16 points and seven rebounds. A lot of that was coming off of really good passes from her teammates.”
Westmont led 47-31 at intermission and looked to be on their way to an easy win, but the Battlin’ Bears of Rocky Mountain (3-1) lived up to their nickname.
“In the second half, Rocky Mountain came out fighting and was super-hot from the three-point line,” said Moore. “Once they got hot it was tough to get them stopped.”
Seven minutes into the final frame, Rocky Mountain had cut the Warriors led to just three points (51-48). Just before the final bucket in that 17-4 run, Tawny McCain subbed into the game.
“Tawny stepped up and changed the momentum back in our favor with her hustle on the boards and 10 second-half points,” said Moore. “That is the best I have seen her play and I am really excited because of the work she has put in to get to that point. Tawny made plays for us with blocked shots on the defensive end and defensive rebounds. Offensively, Tawny was giving us the second effort by getting the o-board put-backs.”
Two buckets by McCain and a jumper by junior guard Vanessa Farias (13 points) restored the Westmont advantage to nine points (57-48). The Battlin’ Bears did not get closer than seven the rest of the game.
McCain finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Lisa Peterson added 12 points and five boards.
The Warriors now return to Santa Barbara where they will get a bit of practice in on Sunday before heading south on Monday for an exhibition game at USC. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
Asked about the trip to USC, Moore replied, “We have to go in there fearless, give it all we have and use it as a chance to improve and get better competing at a high level.”
