Fourteenth-ranked Westmont posted a convincing 80-48 Golden State Athletic Conference win over the Firestorm of Arizona Christian on Thursday night in Murchison Gymnasium.
Head coach Kirsten Moore gave her 10 players nearly equal playing time with no one playing more than 23 minutes and no one playing less than 17. As a result, five different Warriors scored in double figures.
Westmont is 13-6 and 4-2 in the GSAC. Arizona Christian is 5-15, 0-6.
Esther Lee led all scorers with 16 points while going four for eight from three-point range. Kelsie Sampson and Aysia Shellmire each added 12 points while pulling down nine and seven rebounds respectively. Natalie Florescu contributed 11 points and Lauren Sende dropped in 10 points while going a perfect three for three from the field and four for four from the charity stripe.
The Warriors jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first five minutes of play and maintained at least an eight-point margin the rest of the half. Leading by 10 at halftime (36-26), the Warriors doubled their advantage in the first five minutes of the second half, taking a 50-30 lead. The Firestorm would get no closer than 18 points the rest of the way.
Arizona Christian was led in scoring by Prayer Branham with 15 points and Sarah Beth Hock with 12 points.
As a result of the win, Westmont is now one-half game behind #9 The Master’s (16-4, 4-1) and #17 Hope International (15-4, 4-1) who are tied for second in the GSAC standings.
Concordia, whom the Warriors will play next Tuesday night, is a game and one-half behind the Warriors in fifth place. Tip-off is scheduled for
