ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst women's basketball team closed out the CCIW/SLIAC Challenge with an impressive 87-56 victory over Westminster College.
 
Elmhurst led from wire-to-wire, scoring the game's opening points on a pair of Fiona McMahon free throws and never trailing the rest of the way. Leading 9-7 early in the first half, the Bluejays ripped off an 11-0 run over a four minute span to build a 13-point cushion. After Westminster closed to within nine points with just under six minutes remaining in the half, Elmhurst used a 10-0 run to open up a 19-point cushion at 40-21. The Bluejays led 43-26 at the break.
 
Elmhurst made Westminster pay for its first-half mistakes as the Bluejays converted 16 first-half turnovers into 19 points.
 

Westminster (1-1) made an early run in the second half, closing to within 10 points, but Elmhurst (2-0) responded with a 13-2 run to take a 21-point lead after a Kaela Jones three-pointer. Elmhurst continued to pull away, extending its lead to 30 points 75-45 with 5:30 left to play before cruising to the 31-point victory.
 
Elmhurst shot 45.6 percent (31-of-68) from the floor, including 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from downtown. The Bluejays were solid from the free throw line, hitting 18-of-21 attempts (85.7 percent). The Bluejays totaled 25 assists and committed just 10 turnovers in the victory. Elmhurst also outrebounded Westminster 36-30.

Eleven different Bluejays put points on the scoreboard in the victory. Hannah Lipman led Elmhurst with 15 points and five assists in the win. Mikaela Eppard added 12 points and a team-best eight rebounds while Melanie Schwerdtmann and Claire Monroe scored 10 points apiece. Jones came off the bench to score nine while Fiona McMahon added eight points and five rebounds.
 
Westminster shot 40.5 percent (17-of-42) from the floor, but struggled from long range hitting just 2-of-11 three-point attempts. Westminster turned the ball over 26 times resulting in 32 points for Elmhurst.
 
Kasey Gatson paced Westminster in the loss with 15 points. Mackenzie Haddox added 14 points while Andrea Zalis finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
Elmhurst hosts the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Wednesday, November 19.