By Ron Smith
February 11, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Women's Basketball, the fourth ranked team in the NAIA, won its 20th game of the season against just three losses, as the Warriors defeated Golden State Athletic Conference opponent Life Pacific University (5-18, 1-12 GSAC) by a score of 76-57.
 
The Warriors improved to 13-1 in conference play to keep pace with #3 The Master's (25-1, 13-1) atop the GSAC standings. The Master's defeated Hope International (15-7, 6-7) tonight 88-63.
 
Forwards Gabriella Stoll and Kaitlin Larson led the scoring for the Warriors with 15 and 14 points respectively. Stoll was one of four Warriors to knock down three buckets from beyond the arc. Larson also tallied 11 rebounds to earn her second double-double of the year.
 
As a team, Westmont shot 40.5% from 3-point range, making 15 of 37 attempts. Tonight, they set a new Warrior single-season 3-point field goal record at 285. The previous record of 274 was set last year, essentially by these same players. The Warriors lead the NAIA in 3-point field goals per game, now averaging 12.39 per game.
 
In addition to Stoll, Iyree Jarrett (11 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists), Krissy Miyahara (11 points) and Lauren Tsuneishi (9 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists) each recorded three 3-pointers.
 
Stefanie Berberabe was the only player on the team to refrain from taking (and from making) a 3-point shot. Berberabe contributed in other ways, scoring eight points on four-of-nine shooting and recording five assists and five rebounds.
 
Maud Ranger displayed her prowess on the boards, recording 13 rebounds to go with her five points and three rebounds. Ranger, who averages more minutes per game than anyone in Warrior history (34.0), ranks third in rebounds per game in a single-season at 9.8.
 
Westmont took an 18-8 lead in the opening quarter and never looked back. By halftime, the Warriors had stretched their advantage to 39-24. Their largest lead came with 7:29 to play when Stoll's final three of the game gave the Warriors a 68-42 lead.
 
Westmont will hit the road for its next three games, beginning with a visit to #6 Vanguard (18-3, 10-2) on Saturday. The Warriors beat the Lions by one point (59-58) back on Dec. 14. Vanguard is two games back of Westmont and The Master's, but has played two fewer conference games.
 
On Sunday afternoon, Westmont will play a non-conference game at Saint Katherine (5-14) in Oceanside at Mira Costa College.
 
The following Saturday, Westmont will take on The Master's in Santa Clarita in what could be a showdown for first place in the GSAC standings.