By Ron Smith
January 29, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Women's Basketball (7-12) broke the record book Monday night, extinguishing the Flames of Bethesda by a score of 123-40. The previous record for points in a single game was 109, set on November 21, 2005 against Pacific Union and matched on December 30, 2019 against Olivet Nazarene (Ill.).
 
The margin of victory of 83 points ranks third all-time for the Warriors. The previously mentioned game against Pacific Union produced an 85 point victory (109-24). The largest margin of victory ever recorded by Westmont Women's Basketball was in the very first game after the restart of the program. On November 6, 1998, the Warriors posted a 101-15 victory over San Jose Christian (now Jessup), for an 86-point differential.
 
The Warriors led 34-9 by the end of the first quarter and 61-18 at halftime. In both the third and fourth quarters, Westmont posted 31 points as the Warriors tallied more than 30 points in three of the four quarters.
 
In an all-around effort, seven players scored in double figures with all nine players credited with scoring points and pulling down rebounds. Eight of the nine also dished off at least one assist and seven tallied at least one steal.
 
Two freshmen led the way in scoring, with both recording their season highs. Forward Molly Garnand tallied 22 points on 11-of-12 shooting. She also collected six rebounds and three assists. Garnand played just 24 minutes.
 
Navine Mallon notched more points than minutes, recording 21 points in 20 minutes of play while making all 10 of her field goal attempts. She added four rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
 
Senior guard Aleena Cook also made the most of her playing time, tallying 17 points on eight-of-11 shooting in 16 minutes of court time. Cook also brought down six rebounds.
 
Freshman guard Madi Bogan impressed the crowd with 16 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Bogan went three of six from beyond the arc.
 
Senior forward Destiny Okonkwo added 13 points to the Warrior cause, and grabbed seven boards.
 
Sophomore guards Sage Kramer and Isabella Pearson each scored 12 points. Kramer added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Pearson, who made four 3-point buckets, also contributed five assists and five steals.
 
As a team, the Warriors shot 64.7% from the floor (55 of 85), including 38.5% from 3-point range (10 of 26). They also tallied 38 assists while committing a season-low eight turnovers. Defensively they pilfered the ball 16 times, contributing to 27 turnovers by the Flames. Westmont outrebounded Bethesda 32-13 and snatched 19 offensive boards, which led to 22 second-chance points.
 
Westmont will return to PacWest Conference play on Thursday when they host Fresno Pacific as part of a men's and women's doubleheader. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.