Box Score ELSAH, Ill. – Tonight the Principia College women's basketball team hosted the Westminster Blue Jays in their first meeting of the season. Westminster drew first blood with a bucket from point guard Mackenzie Haddox, but Principia was quick to respond with a jumper from senior captain
Kara Johnson. Johnson would go on to hit a three to give the Panthers the lead, and was joined by small forwards
Megan Selby and
Rachel Perea who rounded out the first quarter scoring. The Panthers actually had a one point lead headed into the second quarter, although a Blue Jays bucket would immediately erase that lead as the quarter began. The game continued to be a back and forth affair however, with the Panthers finding enough scoring opportunities to keep a marginal lead. In fact, Principia led the entire 2
nd quarter, but a defensive breakdown in the final seconds of the half led to a Westminster three ball which sent the Panthers into the locker room at half time down 29-28.
As has been the case in several Panther ball games, the 3
rd quarter proved to the Principia's undoing. Scoring just eleven points to Westminster's 22, the Panthers struggled to find the bottom of the net, and solid shooting from beyond the arc from the Blue Jays allowed them to take a double-digit lead that they would never relinquish. Renewed offensive energy on the part of Principia allowed them to cut the lead down to just 6 points with over eight minutes left to play. But the deficit proved too big to overcome, and Westminster eventually came away with the 10 point victory, 65-55.
The Panthers are at home again for their next game this coming Saturday, January 23
rd versus conference opponent Eureka College. Tip-off is set for 1:00 pm.
