By TMU Sports Information

During the 2017-18 season, The Master’s University Lady Mustangs have faced 13 opponents currently ranked inside the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The task was no different as TMU squared off with the GSAC regular-season champion and No. 4-ranked Westmont in one semifinal at the GSAC Basketball Tournament in Phoenix Saturday afternoon.

Westmont jumped out to an early lead, scoring on four of its first five possessions and riding that wave of momentum to a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Senior Morgan Haskin led the Warrior offense with her presence in the post and tenacity on the offensive glass.

Haskin and her fellow posts were disruptive to the Mustangs offense in the early going and made it difficult for TMU to score at the rim. The Mustangs were unable to score on back-to-back possessions during the first quarter.

After both teams combined to score just one point during the first 4:40 of the second quarter, Hannah Ostrom was able to break the trend and scored consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 24-19 with 3:06 left before intermission.

The Mustangs were aided by Westmont’s five first-half misses from the free throw line. After two of those misses, Sabrina Thompson pushed the ball up the court and hit a runner in the lane. On the next possession, Ostrom added a three-pointer to pull the Mustangs within two points (26-24) with 1:08 to play.

After a defensive stop by the Mustangs, a rebounding foul on Westmont resulted in two free throws for Jessica Soares. The freshman calmly stepped to the line and buried both freebies to tie the score at 26. TMU had come all the way back on the strength of their defense holding Westmont to just seven second-quarter points. Ostrom led TMU with seven first-half points.

Hannah Throns opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer, followed by a Brooke Bailey baseline jumper that knotted the score at 31. After two quick fouls on GSAC Player of the Year Lauren McCoy, which forced her to the sideline with three personals, Westmont went on a 5-0 run to lead 36-31.

However, the Mustangs answered right back with a 6-0 run of their own to lead 37-36 with 4:49 left to play in the third stanza.

Joy Krupa was huge for the Warriors, scoring nine third-quarter points. The Westmont offense ran through her as she was asked to create her own offense after receiving multiple ball screens, creating opportunities for her to attack the rim.

The Mustangs had the opportunity to tie the game, but a questionable no-call occurred at the end of the third quarter when Tristen Coltom was knocked to the floor as she released a three-point shot before the horn sounded. What should have been three free throws ended in mystery and a 44-41 deficit entering the final period.

Westmont began the final stanza on a 7-0 run spanning the first four minutes. The Mustangs were in need of defensive stops and get stops they did. On the Warriors next four possessions, TMU forced three shot clock violations as they clamped down on defense.

But Krupa had an answer for the Warriors. She hit a turnaround fall-away jumper, barely beating another shot clock violation, followed by four free throws which helped stretch the Westmont lead to 57-48.

Overall, the Mustangs matched Westmont in rebounding as well as in points scored in the paint. But the difference in this one was the Mustangs’ perimeter shooting. They made just two shots from behind the arc and finished at just eight percent (2-25) from three-point range for the contest.

TMU will now return to campus looking forward to next Wednesday’s selection of teams for the NAIA Division I Basketball Tournament.

The Mustangs believe they have done enough to take part in the 32-team field as they currently sit 29th in the current Coaches’ Poll.

TMU is 19-10 and has played a schedule among the toughest in the nation. Of course, all teams in the GSAC can stake a claim to playing tough schedules, since five GSAC members are currently in the top 30, demonstrating its strength, depth and parity.

The NAIA Women’s Basketball Bracket Reveal is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 at 3 p.m. PT.