After a 23 day break from competition, the Warriors notched a non-league victory over visiting Midland Lutheran (Neb.) 73-66.

The first half was a see-saw battle in which neither team gained more than a five point advantage. Westmont built an early 6-2 advantage on field goals by Sarah Uhlman, Julia Morrow and Megan Fate, but Midland Lutheran answered with a 7-0 run on baskets by Rebecca Garrelts and Shari Elofson. The Warriors scored the next 8 points on a field goal and three pointer by Stephanie Anderson and three free throws by Meghan O’Donogue. O’Donogue was a perfect 11 for 11 from the free throw line which sets a Westmont record for the most field goals made without a miss in a single game and which ties a school record for most field goals made in one game.

[stats]

In an intense battle from tip-off to the final seconds, Westmont (8-2) defeated Lawrence (Wis.) 52-46 in the championship game of the 29th Annual Tom Byron Classic. It is the Warriors fifth straight Classic Championships and 17th overall.

The Vikings (5-2), jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on the strength of a three-pointer by Brendan Falls, (10 points) and a jumper by Dan Evans (11 points). Nick Debban responded, scoring the Warriors first five points on two buckets and a free throw to put the Warriors back in the game. Matt Burkholder tied the score at seven, scoring after his first of four steals on the evening.

[game 1 stats] [game 2 stats]

Westmont Men’s Basketball (7-2) advanced to the championship match of the Tom Byron Classic on the strength of Matt Burkholder’s double-double and Kyle Bechler’s three-point shooting. Burkholder scored 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in a tremendous performance at Murchison Gymnasium. The senior forward also recorded three steals and three assists. Senior guard Bechler went five-for-eight from beyond the arc to tally 15 points for the Warriors who easily defeated Susquehanna (Penn.) by a score of the 78-47. The Warriors scored the first 16 points of the game and never looked back, mounting a 38-17 half-time lead over the Crusaders (2-6).

[game 1 stats] [game 2 stats]

Westmont College will host the 29th Tom Byron Classic on December 29-30 at Murchison Gymnasium. Three NCAA Division III teams will join Westmont in the annual event: Lawrence University (Wis.), Lewis and Clark College (Ore.) and Susquehanna University (Penn.).

Tom Byron:
Excellence, intensity, and competition characterize the tournament commemorating one of Westmont’s greatest coaches - Tom Byron. Byron came to Westmont in 1965 as Dean of Men and basketball coach, bringing with him a concern for student rights, academic freedom, and athletic achievement. A graduate of Wheaton College, where he had an outstanding career as a football center, Byron coached his players to their fullest potential.

Warriors Men’s Basketball came back from an early deficient this evening to claim another “W” to add to their record. On the strength of 60% shooting, the Stags of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-6) built a nine point lead eight minutes into the first half (27-18). Bryan Jolly hit four deuces and Jordan Crumley knocked down three 3-pointers to lead the Stags to the early advantage.

The Warriors (6-2) battled back to within three when Luke Allen sank a three at the 7:23 mark but Claremont’s Dan Winterbottom followed a field goal with a trey, rebuilding the Stag’s lead to eight. Undaunted, Westmont responded with a 9-0 run with Allen accounting for seven of the points. Halftime found the Warriors down by one, 42-41.

[stats]

Matt Burkholder recorded 25 points Saturday night on the way to a 79-58 Warrior win over the Kingsmen of California Lutheran (3-2). Burkholder was 10 for 15 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Kyle Bechler and Nick Debban each recorded 13 points for the Warriors who collectively shot 61.2% from the field.

Down by one at the 13:42 mark, the Warriors went on a 10-0 run on field goals by Debban, Luke Allen and Santiago Aguirre. The Kingsmen battled back and tied the game at 27 on a three-point bucket by Deshion Inniss. The Warriors responded by closing out the period on a 17-6 run with Burkholder accounting for 10 of the Westmont points. The Warriors entered the locker room with a 42-33 advantage.

[stats]

In order to accomodate three games at Murchison Gymnasium and the travel needs of our guests, the following adjustments have been made to Men’s and Women’s Basketball start times on December 30th. The times for December 29th remain the same but are listed for ease of reference.

December 29th

• Men’s Basketball - Tom Byron Classic
  • 5:30 p.m. - Lewis & Clark (OR) vs. Lawrence (Kan.)
  • 7:30 p.m. - Susquehanna (PA) vs. Westmont

December 30th

• Men’s Basketball - Tom Byron Classic
  • 5:00 p.m. - Third Place Game
  • 7:30 p.m. - Championship Game
• Women’s Basketball
  • 9:00 p.m. - Midland Lutheran vs. Westmont

Westmont Women’s Basketball (3-6, 1-1) lost 78-72 in a closely played game against the Cougars of Azusa Pacific (5-2, 2-0).

The first half saw six ties and two lead changes at the Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University. Dani Russell, Julia Morrow and Meghan O’Donogue each scored seven points in the half for the Warriors. With the Cougars up 29-27, Monica Somers nailed a three-point shot with 4:30 to go in the half, starting a 13-3 Cougar run to end the period. Somers finished with a game high 24 points.

[stats]