CALDWELL, Idaho -- A very young Whitworth women's basketball team took a huge early step in its development with a 92-77 win over Westminster College of Utah on Saturday afternoon at the Best Western Caldwell Inn Lady 'Yote Classic, hosted by the College of Idaho.
The Pirates entered the tournament winless (0-2) and the only team not ranked nationally among the four schools. But after today's win over Westminster (10-2), which came into the tournament ranked 10th in the NAIA Division I poll, Whitworth is now 2-2 overall and champions of the Lady 'Yote Classic. On Friday the Bucs beat the host C of I (#19 in NAIA DII) and Westminster had beaten NCAA DIII #4 George Fox.
Emily Guthrie (So., G, Snohomish, Wash.) set a tournament record by draining seven three-pointers (in nine attempts) to lead all players with 21 points and she grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Emily Travis (So., F, Spokane, Wash.) added 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Kayla Johnson (Fr., F, Colfax, Wash.) scored 13 of her 17 points after halftime and Taylor (LaMoreaux) Taylor (Jr., F, Brewster, Wash.) had a career-high 17 points and six rebounds. Travis dished a career-high nine assists and came up with three steals.
Whitworth blitzed the bigger Griffens early, hitting 10 of its first 13 shots (including seven three-pointers) to grab a 26-9 lead just over ten minutes into the game. The Pirates eventually stretched the lead to 38-18 on a three by Taylor with 4:16 to play in the half. After Westminster pulled within 42-27, Johnson drained a jumper just before halftime to give the Bucs a 17-point lead at the break over the shocked Griffins.
Westminster, a high-pressure team that relies on forcing turnovers, dialed up the pressure early in the second half and stormed back to within 60-58 on a three-point play by Jenteal Jackson with 10:15 to play, then after another steal, tied the game 60-60 on a fastbreak by Allie Eastman.
But Whitworth withstood the pressure. Johnson answered with a three-point play of her own, sparking a 10-2 Whitworth run that included a three-pointer by Travis. Guthrie's final three put the Pirates back ahead 75-64 with 5:26 to play and Taylor drained her own three with just over three minutes to play to put Whitworth ahead 80-69. The Bucs then went 10-12 at the free throw line over the final three minutes to secure the win.
Michelle Pace led Westminster with 16 points, Eastman added 15 points and Nicole Yazzie scored 14 points. Jackson had 13 for the Griffons.
Whitworth will open Northwest Conference play next week with contests at Lewis & Clark (Friday) and Linfield (Saturday). Both begin at 6:00 p.m.