The Dixie State women's basketball team fell in its home opener Tuesday, dropping a 61-55 decision to Westminster at the Burns Arena.
The Red Storm (0-3) fell behind early as Westminster guard Natalie Parsons scored the Griffins' first nine points to give Westminster a 9-2 lead early in the first quarter. However, Dixie State responded with a 7-2 run to pull within 11-9 with 2:47 remaining in the period, but couldn't get any closer and trailed 15-11 after one quarter.
The Storm came of the gate firing in the second quarter, using a 5-0 spurt to take their first lead at 16-15. The teams then traded baskets throughout the remainder of the quarter, and DSU took 23-22 lead into the halftime break when junior guard
Aliya Davis (Everett, Wash./Woodcreek) nailed a trey to give the Storm the advantage. The defense did the rest, forcing Westminster to run the clock out without a shot attempt before halftime.
DSU picked up where it left off in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 25-22, but couldn't capitalize on multiple opportunities to extend the lead further. Westminster countered with an 11-0 run to take a lead it would never surrender.
"We've got to do a better job with our field goal percentages," Head Coach
Jenny Thigpin said. "We've got to able to get high-percentage shots and run our offense better with more flow."
Dixie State pulled even at 41-41 in the fourth quarter after a 9-0 run capped by a Davis 3-pointer from the right wing. However, Westminster again responded and took the lead for good midway through the quarter to wrap up the 61-55 victory.
The Storm shot 30 percent (19-of-62) from the field, 31 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc, and 80 percent (12-of-15) from the free throw line. Davis led the attack, finishing with a career-high 16 points and four steals. Senior center
Taylor Mann (Castle Dale, Utah/Emery) recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
DSU returns to the road for two more games later this week at the Colorado Mesa Thanksgiving Tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Storm will battle Western State Colorado on Friday at 1 p.m. MT and wrap up the week against Colorado Mesa on Saturday at 5 p.m. MT.
