SALT LAKE CITY - Adams State Women's Basketball dropped a 74-58 contest on the road Friday night to Westminster College in an RMAC bout. The Grizzlies loss puts their record at 2-16 overall and 2-12 in the RMAC.
The Grizzlies shot the ball well going 41.1% from the floor overall and were 38.1% from three-point range. The Griffins (15-3, 13-1) shot 60% though to stay in front of the Grizzlies and were 45.5% from deep. They out-rebounded the Grizzlies 33-21 and won the points in the battle battle, 40-26.
The Griffins led wire-to-wire the whole night and a quick start help them do that. They jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first five minutes of play before the Grizzlies got on the board.
Zakiya Beckles ended the Grizzlies opening quarter drought with a three-pointer with 4:24 on the clock. Despite the slow stat, the Grizzlies scored 13 points in the final half of the quarter but the Griffins put up 26 total to lead by 13 after the first.
Adams State added 11 points in the second frame while Westminster put up 12 to stay in front by 14 points going into the break. Adams State maintained its offensive rhythm the whole quarter but Westminster matched each shot from the visitors.
Ki'asha Harris got the Grizzlies within 15 in the second with jumper in the paint with 4:02 to play in the half.
Brooke Neal also made it a 15-point game with steal and fastbreak layup with 1:54 to play until halftime. It was the closest the Grizzlies got to the Griffins in the second quarter.
The slow first quarter start had the Grizzlies at a 37.5 shooting percentage going into halftime, while the Griffins shot a blistering 72.7% to help them maintain a double figure lead for much of the first half.
At the start of the third quarter, the Grizzlies put together an 8-2 run to cut their deficit to eight points in the first two minutes of play. Neal scored half of that while
Madison Merschel and
Marshell Hollins scored the other half. The run cut the Griffins lead to 40-32.
The Griffins look to keep the lead at double digits but the Grizzlies kept fighting to keep the game within reach. Beckles hit a triple with 4:00 on the clock to make it a 48-39 game. Only leading by nine, the Griffins once again created separation with an 11-2 run.
The scoring surge which included eight straight points to start the run help Westminster go back up by double figures with an 18-point lead. The late run by the home team gave them a 61-43 edge going into the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies never recovered from the third quarter run as the Griffins led by as much as 22 points in the fourth before securing the 16-point home win.
Beckles was the top Adams State scorer with 15 points off the bench. She shot 6-10 for 60% on the night and was 3-5 from beyond the arc.
Stephanie Ruiz was the only other double-digit scored with 13 points on 5-12 shooting.
Three Griffins scored in double figures led by Olivia Eliss with game-high 23 points and seven boards. Kaylee Carleson scored 15 points on 6-7 shooting and was 3-4 from deep to go along with five assists. Sicilee Williams put up 13 points on 5-7 made shots. Hillary Weixler chipped in 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
The Grizzlies remain in Utah for one more game as they take on Dixie State tomorrow night, Feb. 2. Tip-off against the Trailblazers is set for 5:30 p.m.
