Rebounding lifts Griffins over Westminster

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne Women's basketball took down SLIAC preseason favorite Westminster College 73-67 today, earning their second win of the week. The Griffins are now 3-7 overall and 2-2 in conference, evening Westminster's conference record to 2-2 as well.

The Blue Jays, who hadn't played a game since Dec. 19th, started out in a full-court press. Each team missed their first two scoring attempts and the Griffins got on the board first when Nicole Joerger lofted a pass to Emmie Haring on the baseline. Haring dribbled under the basket and scored on a reverse layup. After Westminster scored in the ensuing possession, the Griffins scored five points to lead 7-2 after DeAmbra Pilkinton connected on a trey. Erika Kuhn pulled in five defensive rebounds for Fontbonne as the teams ended first-quarter play tied 11-11.

Haring secured a defensive rebound near the free-throw line and dished a bullet up the court to Pilkinton who chased down the ball and completed the fast-break layup. The fourth unanswered Griffin point, forced a Blue Jay timeout. The Griffins scored two more points before Westminster answered with six consecutive points. Fontbonne led 29-24 at halftime after Westminster closed out with a 7-3 run.

Kuhn gave the Griffins a 10-point lead after scoring six of Fontbonne's eight points to open third-quarter play. Four of those were from the charity stripe. The Griffins wrestled with the Blue Jays' longe-range shooting. After blanking on eight attempts in the first half, Westminster displayed a perfect 5-of-5 in three-pointers in the third period, but connected on only two of eight attempts in the final frame.

Overall Fontbonne held a 40-28 total point advantage from inside the paint as well as a 45-29 rebounding advantage and 19-6 second-chance point conversions.

Kuhn led Fontbonne in her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The senior went 5-of-7 in the field and 7-of-9 at the free-throw line. Freshman Jessica Jordan also recorded 17 points. Haring finished the day with 12 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. She also only missed two shots each in the field and at the line.

Fontbonne's largest lead was 15 points with 6:39 left in the game. The Griffins led for all but 42 seconds of the game.

Fontbonne is on the road for the Big Bend Showdown Wednesday at Webster for a 6 p.m. game and doesn't return home until Jan. 13th.