Griffins succumb to Westminster in opening conference play

Fulton, Mo. - After committing nine fouls to Westminster's four in the first quarter, the Griffins entered the second half 16-7 foul disadvantage. Westminster took advantage of the foul discrepancy by shooting 81.8% from the free throw line in the contest. Twenty-seven of their 79 points were at the charity stripe as the Griffins fell after scoring 68 points. 

Junior Sarah Schraut (pictured left) led the team off the bench with 15 points and six rebounds. Not far behind her was freshman forward Raven Venegas with 12 points and five rebounds. Guiding the Griffins at the point guard position was senior Emmie Haring who broke her own single game assist record. The Ballwin native and St. Joseph's Academy alum assisted 14 times, breaking her 12 against Webster last season. Haring recorded four assists in the first and fourth quarters, one in the second and five in the third.

Westminster jumped out to a 7-0 lead and then led 23-14 at the first break. Fontbonne trailed 27-16 with 6:32 left before halftime when Fontbonne scored four points to pull within seven but Westminster finished the half with a 38-25. 

With 2:49 left in the game, Fontbonne trailed 71-59. Two three-pointers later the Griffins were down by just eight points. Fontbonne called a timeout with 41 seconds left to devise a plan and it worked. Sarah Schraut ran the baseline for the open three-pointer to pull the Griffins within six points of the host Blue Jays who would hold on for the win. 

Fontbonne went eight of 11 at the free throw line however their usual rebounding skills lacked as Westminster out-rebounded the Griffins 44-29. The Griffins now have free throw average of 71.4%.

Fontbonne returns to campus to host MacMurray on Saturday at 1 p.m.