It could not have been closer. With time about to expire, The Mustang’s Sydney Emory launched an awkward, desperation three-point shot which found its target, giving #20 The Master’s (7-3, 1-1 GSAC) a 70-67 Golden State Athletic Conference win over #11 Westmont (7-3, 0-3 GSAC).
Slow-motion replay revealed that the when the ball left Emory’s hand, the clock read 0.0 but the end-of-period lights around the backboard had not yet lit.
The Mustangs led much of the game. With the game tied at 17 in the first half, The Master’s went on an 8-0 run to go up 25-17 with three minutes remaining in the opening frame. However, jumpers by Krissy Karr and Aysia Shellmire, together with a three-pointer from Karr, resulted in a 7-2 run by Westmont and a 27-24 halftime score.
In the second half, the Mustangs held on to the lead until Esther Lee drained a three-point shot to tie the game at 58 with 4:14 remaining in regulation. Two free throws by Shellmire gave Westmont its first lead of the game (60-58) in more than 23 minutes.
After a jumper by The Mustangs’ Brittany West tied the game at 60, Lee delivered again from three-point distance, putting the Warrior up 63-60. However, Bianca Cubella responded with an old-fashioned three to knot up the game at 63 with two minutes to go.
A jumper by Shellmire was answered with a Megan Lindsley to keep the score tied. Lauren McCoy scored on a jumper to give Westmont another two-point advantage before Lindsley converted two free throws to make the score 67-67 at the one minute mark.
With 39 seconds remaining, Lee missed on another three-point attempt, but Cora Chan snagged the rebound, prompting Head Coach Kirsten Moore to call time out. When play resumed, the Warriors were unable to get off a shot before turning over the ball with just seven second remaining.
Despite heavy pressure from a Warriors’ defense that refused to give the Mustangs an open look, Emory found a way to get off the game winner.
Lee led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points and tallied four assists. Celina Gougis added 12 points to the Warriors’ cause while making five of six from the floor including both attempts from long distance. She also had five rebounds. Shellmire contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Warriors shot 47.4 percent from the floor (27 of 57) including 52.9 percent from beyond the arc (9 of 17). Westmont outrebounded The Master’s 38-22 but committed 15 turnovers to the Mustangs’ six.
The Mustangs were led in scoring by Best with 19 points and Lindsley with 14.
Westmont’s next game will be on Saturday, December 20 at three o’clock against Bethesda (5-7).
