Batesville, AR – Despite defining moments in the first and second half, Scots came up short on their last home outing. The Westminster Blue Jays got the best of the Scots in an 85-71 win over Lyon.
Natalya Kaza led in scoring for the Scots dropping 30 points, a team high of three steals, and five rebounds.
Savanna Lopez recorded seven points, a steal, swatted down three shots from the Blue Jays, and grabbed a impressive 14 rebounds.
Alyssa Abascal recorded a team high of three assists.
The first quarter saw Natayla Kaza and
Molly Mason contribute significantly to Lyon's early offense. Mason scored 8 points in the quarter, including two successful 3-pointers, helping Lyon take an early 9-7 lead. Kaza added five points, including a crucial good free throw at the end of the quarter to tie the game at 17-17.
Savanna Lopez dominated the boards early, securing multiple defensive rebounds. Key stats for Lyon in the first quarter included 6-18 FG shooting (33.33%) and 3-7 from behind the arc.
The second quarter was tough for Lyon, who were outscored 28-13. Kaza continued to be a focal point, scoring 8 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers and several free throws. Lopez scored a jumper and a free throw, while
Paris Halliburton added a jumper. Despite moments of defensive pressure, including Lopez's steal, Lyon struggled to contain Westminster's scoring runs. Lyon shot only 20.00% from the field in the second quarter.
Natalya Kaza continued her offensive masterclass, scoring 17 of her game-high 30 points in the final two frames. Kaza was relentless, hitting a deep three in the third and showcasing her efficiency at the charity stripe by going 4-for-4 during the fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
Kaysharia Woods found her rhythm from deep in the second half, draining three triples, including two back-to-back shots in the fourth that briefly cut the deficit to single digits.
Camya Porter provided a massive spark off the bench, relentlessly attacking the basket to earn six free-throw attempts in the final period alone. Defensively,
Savanna Lopez remained a force, finishing with a staggering 14 rebounds and three blocks, while
Johanna Zocholl contributed a fastbreak bucket and key defensive boards. Despite outscoring Westminster 23-18 in the fourth, Lyon's 31.3% total shooting was not enough to overcome the early deficit. As Lyon attempted to chip away at the Blue Jays' double-digit lead but ultimately fell 85-71.
With the result, Scots have clinched their spot in the SLIAC Women's Basketball tournament. Lyon holds the fifth seed and will travel to Spalding University on Wednesday.
