The Westminster women's basketball team grabbed a 30 point win over Blackburn College on Saturday. The 74-44 win brings the Blue Jays to 11-2 in conference play and 13-5 overall.
"Payton (Beeler) and Bailey (Mitchell) came in and were hot for us," stated Head Coach Tracey Braden. Beeler went 2-3 from the field, while Mitchell added four points.
"We were able to stay patient and work on our inside-outside game," added senior Tylere Goans. "Krista Armontrout really stepped up and made some important shots under the basket for us. Next game we are going to bring more energy and get on the boards." Armontrout went 4-5 from the field and pulled down four boards.
The Westminster Blue Jays started the game with two layups by junior Kasey Gatson and Armontrout to take a 4-0 lead. Gatson tallied up four more points to give the Blue Jays an 11-4 lead just over five minutes into the game.
A three-pointer by junior Mackenzie Haddox increased the Blue Jays lead to 14 with 8:13 on the clock. A layup by Haddox then started an 8-0 run to give the Blue Jays a 20 point lead with just under two minutes left in the half. Blackburn hit a jumper with seven seconds to go to send the Blue Jays into halftime with a 39-21 lead.
Gatson hit two three's and Armontrout put up two shots down low to bring the Blue Jays' lead to 22 points just three minutes into the second half.
Goans put in a layup with 14:19 to go to start a 7-0 run. The Blue Jays held a 26 point lead, and sophomore Payton Gruber scored eight in three minutes to give the Blue Jays a 30 point lead.
The Blue Jays held the lead throughout the final five minutes, and sophomore Bailey Mitchell closed out the game with a jumper to win it 74-44.
"We have to continue to iron out the kinks, but we saw some good execution in the second half on offense," added Coach Tracey Braden.
Gatson led the game with 16 points and eight boards. Haddox also had eight rebounds while adding 11 points, five assists and three steals.
The Blue Jays host MacMurray College on Wednesday, February 11, at 6:00 p.m.