By Ron Smith
January 4, 2025
 
(HILO, Hawaii) The defense came up big and six different Warriors contributed to the scoring as Westmont Women's Basketball (6-6, 3-3 PacWest) defeated the Vulcans of Hawai'i Hilo (3-7, 1-3) by a score of 70-47.
 
"We have been working on our defense," noted Westmont's head coach Kirsten Moore. "We felt like last game we were not at the level we were capable of being, especially on defense and on the boards. Those were two areas we focused on tonight. That showed in tonight's game and produced some good things."
 
The Warriors outrebounded the Vulcans 38-22 with Lisa Kiefer collecting 16 boards while Westmont's defense held Hilo to 29.5% shooting from the floor.
 
Asked what stood out from the Warriors' defensive effort, Moore replied, "I would say our ability to stay connected with what each other is doing. We are trying to find ways on the court - with so many new pieces and such a new team – to make each other better out there on both ends of the floor. Our focus has been on how we can support our teammate to help them be successful, how we can have our teammate's back out there when they need help, and how we can work together to accomplish our goals.
 
"That is what I am most proud about. Tonight, was a total team win from the effort and focus to how everybody was ready to contribute off the bench. We played with a different spirit of togetherness tonight. We were able to keep that going and had a chance to put pieces together to make something bigger than the individuals. I know that this is what this team wants to be about.
 
"Our captains led us well today and led us in the focus on togetherness. Kate Goostrey, Bella Pearson and Molly Garnand led the way with their willingness to be sacrificial and giving to the team. That becomes contagious. I am proud of them and the way they are stepping up in those ways. Hopefully, we can build on that now."
 
Jazmyn Shipp led the Warriors in scoring with 14 points, making six of nine of her attempts from the floor. Bailey Fong added 12 points, half of which came from the free throw line. Sage Kramer added another 11 points while Garnand and Mariah Brown put up nine and eight points respectively.
 
The first points of the game were scored 50 seconds in by Hilo's Caiyle Kaupu. Brown responded with a triple giving Westmont a 3-2 lead – a lead they did not surrender for the rest of the game. Westmont ended the first frame with a 23-15 advantage, led by Shipp who went four of six from the field to tally nine points.
 
The second quarter saw the Warrior defense stiffen further, allowing the Vulcans just eight points. The Warrior offense also slowed a bit, but Fong made six out of six free throws to help Westmont extend its lead to 37-23 at halftime.
 
The third quarter was the closest, with Westmont outscoring Hilo 16-14. Six Warriors contributed to the scoring in the penultimate period, led by Kramer with six.
 
Westmont entered the final frame with a 53-37 margin and their team-first spirit intact. Seven Warriors scored in the fourth quarter as they extended their lead to as much as 26 points on a layup by Brown with just over a minute to play. Kiefer led the fourth-quarter scoring with four points.
 
Westmont returns to Santa Barbara for the start of the Spring Semester. On Thursday, Westmont will host Bethesda in a non-conference game which is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.