By Christy Cain

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) #9 Westmont men’s tennis team (4-3, 4-1 GSAC) had their work cut out for them this afternoon as they hosted #21 San Diego Christian (5-2, 3-2 GSAC) on the Abbott Tennis Courts.

“We played well. It was a very tough match. We knew it was going to be difficult against them,” opened head coach Mark Basham. “I think that the Hawks are going to be a top 15 team in the NAIA, so it was a great win for us today.”

As usual, the Warriors opened with doubles play this afternoon and ended up winning two out of the three matchups. On court one, Carl-Philip Lindqvist and Travis Kimsey were upset by Brendan Aguilar and Leonardo Urquidi by a score of 8-2. But on court number two, Westmont’s Mathis and Sibbel took care of business with 8-1 win against De Romas and Zasadnyy.

By Christy Cain

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont’s women’s tennis team (6-2, 4-1 GSAC) swept San Diego Christian (2-3, 2-3 GSAC) 9-0 on Friday afternoon at home on the Abbott Tennis Courts.

The lady Warriors have sparked a bit of a winning streak over the last two matches, only dropping one match to go a total of 17-1 between the two competitions. In doubles play, Inez Costamagna and Lauren Stratman continue to light up the court with their consistent and high level play. The duo has yet to lose a doubles match this season and continued their streak today with a 8-0 win over Viktoria Galitsyna and Heather Borsos.

One court number two, doubles partners Alyson Meyer and Haley Strandness took down San Diego Christian’s Daneshjoo and Riabykh by a score of 8-2. To cap off doubles play, Keach and Rivera defeated Boeta and Hicker 8-2.

By Christy Cain

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) It was a night of firsts this evening as the #25 Westmont men’s basketball team (18-8, 10-3 GSAC) took the court by storm tonight against #11 Arizona Christian (21-7, 10-4 GSAC).

With the 72-66 victory, the Warriors handed the Firestorm their first home loss of the 2014-15 season. Up until this point, Arizona Christian has gone 13-0 on their home court. But tonight’s upset victory brought their perfect record to a screeching, yet glorious, halt.

Earlier this season, the Warriors had an outstanding performance and an upset win against the Firestorm in Murchison Gymnasium, and tonight they did it again. Despite the long travel, despite the loud gym, despite the differential in their national rankings, Westmont stepped onto the court and went to work this evening. They played not only like a team, but as a well-rounded unit that fully trusted and believed in each other. With four players scoring in double-digit points, it was a total and complete team win.

Since tonight was the first game that the Warriors have played outside of California, it was the first time this season that Hayden Anderson got to play in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. It honestly would be hard to think of a better game for the junior guard to have in front of his home crowd. Anderson not only scored a team high of 16 points, but posted impressive numbers. He shot 50 percent from outside the arc (2-4) and 100 percent from the free throw line (8-8), giving him some of the best statistics on the team.

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With 24 points and seven rebounds from junior forward Aysia Shellmire, #15 Westmont Women’s Basketball (21-5, 8-5 GSAC) picked up an 84-68 Golden State Athletic Conference victory in Phoenix, defeating Arizona Christian (5-22, 1-13) for its fourth victory in a row. Shellmire made 12 of 16 shots from the floor for a field goal percentage of 75.0.

Senior guard Celina Gougis – who made her return to the Warrior line-up after sitting out three games with an injury – poured in 14 points, pulled down five rebounds and dished off six assists. Junior guard Krissy Karr added another 13 points and eight assists while senior guard Esther Lee notched 10 points.

After the Firestorm’s Sophia Anaya hit a jumper to start the game, Shellmire tied the game on a layup and Lee hit a three to put the Warriors up 5-2. The Warriors never trailed again. At halftime, Westmont held a 48-34 advantage.

As a team, the Warriors shot 53.7 percent from the field (36 of 37) including 31.8 percent from beyond the arc (7 of 22).

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Westmont Baseball (13-3) suffered both its first home loss and its first non-conference loss of the season on Thursday afternoon at Russ Carr Field. The Warriors fell to the Thunderbirds of #24 British Columbia by a score of 4-1.

Alex Bush (0-1) took the loss for the Warriors after giving up two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Bush stuck out one and walked one. British Columbia’s starter Jeremy Newton (3-1) was awarded the win. Newton allowed one run on six hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

A lead-off home run by Jerod Bartnik over the right field fence in the top of the fourth gave the Thunderbirds the lead. Westmont answered back in the bottom half of the inning when Will Barring scored on a fielder’s choice by Michael Pollex. Barring had earlier led off the inning with a walk.

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By Christy Cain

(COSTA MESA, Calif.) #9 Westmont’s men’s tennis team (3-3, 3-1 GSAC) had a difficult time this afternoon while playing #4 Vanguard University (6-0, 3-0GSAC). The Warrior men had their work cut for them as they took on the undefeated Lions and ultimately dropped the match 2-7.

In doubles play, Lindqvist and Kimsey notched one of Westmont’s two wins as they opened up with an 8-6 victory against the Lion’s number one duo. Mathis and Sibbel dropped 4-8 against Gely and Muri, while Whalen and Nightingale fell 1-8 against Vanguards Johnson and Burnac.

By Christy Cain

(COSTA MESA, Calif.) The #12 Westmont women’s tennis team (5-2, 3-1 GSAC) had a very convincing 8-1 win in Costa Mesa this afternoon against #11 Vanguard University (2-4, 2-2 GSAC).

Today was an interesting match for the Warriors because the Lions had to forfeit two singles and a double match due to illness and injury. Since the Lions only had four players, the Warriors automatically went up 3-0.

Despite the defaulted points earned, the Warriors did not let up. The women played very strong and consistent tennis. In singles play, Lauren Stratman swept her opponent 6-0, 6-0 in the number one position.

Westmont Women’s Basketball claimed its 20th win of the season (against five losses) as the Warriors defeated William Jessup (2-23, 1-13 GSAC) by as score of 60-40 in Murchison Gymnasium on Saturday night in a Golden State Athletic Conference match-up. With the win, Westmont improves to 7-5 in GSAC play.

Aysia Shellmire led the Warriors with 11 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday night. Morgan Haskin added nine points and eight rebounds while Esther Lee contributed eight points. Lauren McCoy led the Warriors in rebounding with 14.

The Warriors jumped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game and never looked back. At halftime, Westmont held a 39-17 advantage. Westmont led by at least 16 points throughout the second half.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the #16 Warriors find themselves tied for fourth place with Hope International (16-10) and Biola (15-11). After two road games next week, Westmont will conclude the regular season by hosting Hope International on Tuesday, February 24 and Biola on Saturday, February 28.

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