By Ron Smith

February 1, 2018

(ATHERTON, Calif.) Senior forward Lauren McCoy posted a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds to help lead #6 Westmont Women's Basketball (14-5, 7-1 GSAC) to a 56-46 Golden State Athletic Conference victory over #16 Menlo (17-5, 5-3). As a result, the Warriors retain sole possession of first place in the conference standings and maintain a one-game lead over #24 Arizona Christian (17-4, 6-2).

After playing to an 11-all tie in the first quarter, the Oaks outscored the Warriors 15-9 in the second frame to claim a 26-20 lead at the intermission. Westmont reversed the outcome in the third quarter, outscoring the Oaks 15-9 to tie the game at 35.

 A 3-point basket by the Oaks' Madison Rocha gave Menlo a 38-35 advantage before McCoy scored on a layup to pull the Warriors within one. Jessica Rogers answered McCoy's layup with one off her own to make the score 40-37 in favor of the home team with 8:04 to play.

Over the next two and one-half minutes, the Warriors put together an 11-0 run to take a 48-40 lead. Jumpers by Joy Krupa (9 points, 9 rebounds, and Cassidy Tiegs started the run. Krupa then struck again with another jumper before Maud Ranger (8 points, 3 rebounds) dropped a dagger from beyond the arc. McCoy finished the run with a layup; putting the Warriors up by eight with 5:31 to play.

Westmont did not score for more than three and one-half minutes and did not record a field goal for the remainder of the game. However, the Warriors defense allowed the Oaks just six points the rest of the way.

With 1:55 to play, Krupa hit one of two free throw attempts to give Westmont a five-point advantage (49-44). With a minute to play, the Oaks' Aliyah Brantley laid the ball through the hoop to make the score 49-46.

Three seconds later, Krupa was fouled and drained both resulting free throws to put the Warriors back on top by five (51-46).

After a missed 3-pointer by the Oaks and rebound by Tiegs, Morgan Haskin (11 points, 3 rebounds) was fouled, Haskin extended Westmont advantage to seven (53-46) by connecting on both free throws with 32 seconds to play.

McCoy added two more free throws for the Warriors down the stretch and Haskins add one more to account for the final score.

With the loss, Menlo falls into a tie with #8 Vanguard (15-3, 5-3) for third place in the GSAC standings. The two teams are one game behind Arizona Christian and two behind the Warriors.