SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Freshman Emma Sterkel was the hero on Saturday night when she hit the game-winning-shot in a 53-52 upset win over Westminster College (19-6, 17-4 RMAC). The Regis University women's basketball team (15-11, 11-10 RMAC) scored just eight points in two separate quarters, but they were able to rally back and secure the must-win game on the road.
 
How It Happened: The Rangers opened the game shooting 0-for-5 from the field and quickly found themselves down by nine, 1-10. Sophomore Whitney Jacob found the nylon at the 4:33 mark to give RU their first bucket of the game.
 
The Griffins scored 19 first quarter points while holding Regis to just three baskets and a pair of free-throws, taking an 8-19 advantage into the second period. The second quarter began with a Westminster basket, giving them their largest lead of the game, 8-21.
 
However, The Rangers did not allow the Griffins to put the game away early. Senior Shelby Espinosa scored a layup on RU's' next trip down the court, allowing them to get into the rhythm of what proved to be an efficient second quarter.
 
Regis cut their deficit to single digits when Espinosa assisted freshman Elly Walters behind the arc. The Rangers managed to make it a two-possession game when junior McKenna Bishop laid the ball in with 3:52 remaining in the half.
 
RU scored 16 of their 25 second quarter points in the final four minutes. They shot 6-8 from the field and 4-5 from three-point land, outscoring the Griffins 16-2 to close the half. Junior Jaz'Myne Snipes make back-to-back three-pointers before sophomore Emma Sterkel made a long-range buzzer beater to send Regis into the half with a 33-27 edge.  
 
The Rangers third quarter looked much like their first. They added just eight points to their halftime total and surrendered 16. Westminster opened the half on a 12-2 run and looked to be in control of the game once again. RU scored just two points in the first 7:24 seconds of the half. Senior Majestie Robinson scored the last bucket of the quarter to send Regis into the final quarter trailing 41-43.
 
The Griffins scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to stretch their lead to six, 41-47, with 8:57 left in the game. They went on to outscore the Rangers 8-3 in the first 4:20 of the quarter.
 
After the 12 combined points, neither team scored over the next 2:40 of play. Jacob made a layup to end the scouring drought and bring RU within five, 46-51, with three minutes on the clock. Jacob's basket sparked a comeback that featured a 9-1 Regis run.
 
Senior Majestie Robinson scored five-straight points down the stretch, including an old fashioned three-point play that tied the game at 51 apiece. The Griffins were able to inbound the ball with just 44 second left in the game, but Regis decided to send them to the foul-line. Westminster made just one of their attempts, putting the ball in the hand of the Rangers' for the final possession.
 
Sterkel, who subbed in after the made free-throw, made the game-winning shot with 11 second remaining. The Griffins were unable to connect on a last second shot and RU came secured a 53-52 upset win.
 
Game Notes: Although Regis had zero scorers in double-digits, they had nine layers contribute to their scoring total. Jacob (3-14, 1-4 3-PT), Robinson (3-8, 0-3 3-PT) and Snipes (3-10, 3-5 3-PT) all tallied nine points while Espinosa (3-4) and Sterkel (3-10, 1-5 3-PT) added seven apiece.
 
The Rangers shot just 31.7 percent from the field while the Griffins made 40.8 percent. The difference was in the three-point game. RU made eight from beyond the arc while holding Westminster to just three.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University women's basketball team will close out the regular season by hosting Colorado Christian University for senior night on Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m.