The Westminster College women’s basketball team defeated South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Wednesday night, ending with a final score of 76-70. The Griffins will advance to the semi-finals round against Dixie State Friday.
Holding a 14-point lead at halftime, the team held off a second-half surge to advance to the second round of the RMAC Tournament.
Trailing 8-6 in the first quarter, Westminster ended the period to take a 24-12 lead. Junior Hunter Krebs scored nine points in the quarter and junior Sarah McGinley added seven.
The lead grew as large as 21 points during the second quarter, but the Hardrockers cut the deficit to 14 points at halftime.
South Dakota Mines outscored Westminster 24-12 in the third quarter to pull within two to start the final quarter. The Hardrockers then took a three-point lead two minutes into the final period.
Down 60-57, the Griffins responded to regain control and take an eight-point lead with three minutes left.
Westminster’s defense held the RMAC’s second-leading scorer, South Dakota’s Ryan Weiss, to just 10 points throughout the game.
The Griffins will travel to Grand Junction, Coloradao, to compete in the semi-finals against Dixie State University — who the team defeated Saturday in its last regular-season game to advance to the quarter-finals.
With a victory, the Griffins would advance to the championship game against the winner of no. 4 seed Colorado School of Mines and no. 1 seed Colorado Mesa. The championship game is set for Saturday, March 7, at 6 p.m.
Sports coverage by The Forum is created in part through a partnership with the Westminster College Athletics Program.
