Seattle Pacific (5-2), the tenth ranked team in NCAA Division II paid a visit to Murchison Gymnasium on Saturday and walked away with 95-66 non-conference victory over the Westmont women’s basketball team.

The game began well enough for the Warriors with Stephanie Anderson (6 points, 5 rebounds) and Megan Fate (16 points) scoring in the first minute to give the Warriors a 4-0 start. Carli Grant, who led the Falcons with 20 points, dropped in a jumper to start the scoring for Seattle Pacific.

After a lay-up by Westmont’s Dani Russell, SPU posted a 10-0 run which included two three-point buckets by Mandy Wood (12 points). The first of Sara Uhlman’s 13 points came on a lay-up which broke the Falcon’s run and pulled the Warriors to within 4 points (12-8).

Brittney Kroon nailed a jumper for the Falcons, but Fate and Anderson each connected from beyond the arc to knot the game at 14 with 14:34 remaining in the first half. A minute later, freshman Ali Mooty put the Warriors ahead with a lay-up. Mooty recorded 14 points in the game and collected 7 rebounds.

SPU regained the lead (17-16) on a three-pointer by Autumn Fielding (9 points) but Fate struck again for two points to give Westmont an 18-17 advantage. The lead switched hands again on another three-pointer by Jackie Hollands (8 points) but Mooty evened the game at 20 with a jumper at the 11:55 mark.

The Falcons pushed ahead with buckets by Rachel Strand (6 points) and Jenny Poe (19 points). But Fate and Mooty scored to tie the game at 24 with 9:50 remaining in the half. Unfortunately, it would be the last tie of the game.

Over the next three minutes, the Falcons produced a 12-0 run and the Warriors could not narrow the gap to single digits the rest of the way. At halftime, SPU held a 45-34 lead which they pressed to as much as a 32 point advantage in the second half.

Westmont will resume play on Tuesday, December 27 when they host Bethany at Murchison Gymnasium. The next evening, Wednesday, December 28, the Warriors will host #24 Lubbock Christian. Both games will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.

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