Women's Basketball Set a High Bar for Westcliff Athletics
Westcliff's Women's Basketball team fell short in the NAIA Women's Basketball Opening Round to the defending National Champions and the #2 ranked team in the nation Westmont College. Throughout the game our Warriors team did what they have done all year which was fight for 40 minutes. The game started off intense with Westmont gaining the lead but the Warriors soon found their rhythm. The 1st period ended with a score Westmont 13 Westcliff 11. However, those 11 points are a little deceiving. Freshman Guard Neyha Lali who all season has facilitated key shots for other Warriors. In this game against Westmont it was Lali that found open looks with a hot streak. Neyha in the 1st period shot all 11 points for the Warriors keeping them in the game. 2nd Period saw the Warriors both Westmont and Westcliff fight for every possession. The Warriors went into the half down up 2 with a last second layup from Laura Tapia. More impressive from the guard Neyha Lali at the half was shooting 100% from the field for 16 points 3-3 from beyond the arc. Entering into the 3rd period Westmont started separating themselves from the Warriors. Westcliff kept the game within reach from some key offensive plays from Bailey Hawkins and Trinity Vasquez. The 4th period Westcliff fought down up 10. Westcliff never gave up against the #1 seed in the bracket. Westmont ultimately came up with the win 62-47. The Women's Basketball team set a new bar here at Westcliff University. Even though they were seeded as #16 against the #1 seeded Westmont who are also the defending NAIA National Champions. Westcliff earned respect from the Westmont team and administration for not giving them an easy win in the opening round. Westcliff Women's Basketball earned the ticket to the National Championship in their 1st year of eligibility some teams wait decades. No one can take away from this team what they accomplished. No other team can be the 1st team to make it to the NAIA National Championship. This belongs to the Women's Basketball team of 2021-2022.
By: SID Chase Dodge
Westcliff's Women's Basketball team fell short in the NAIA Women's Basketball Opening Round on Friday to the defending National Champions and the #2 ranked team in the nation Westmont College. Throughout the game our Warriors team did what they have done all year which was fight for 40 minutes.
The game started off intense with Westmont gaining the lead but the Warriors soon found their rhythm. The 1st period ended with a score Westmont 13 Westcliff 11. However, those 11 points are a little deceiving. Freshman Guard Neyha Lali who all season has facilitated key shots for other Warriors. In this game against Westmont it was Lali that found open looks with a hot streak. Neyha in the 1st period shot all 11 points for the Warriors keeping them in the game.
2nd Period saw the Warriors both Westmont and Westcliff fight for every possession. The Warriors went into the half down up 2 with a last second layup from Laura Tapia. More impressive from the guard Neyha Lali at the half was shooting 100% from the field for 16 points 3-3 from beyond the arc.
Entering into the 3rd period Westmont started separating themselves from the Warriors. Westcliff kept the game within reach from some key offensive plays from Bailey Hawkins and Trinity Vasquez. The 4th period Westcliff fought down hard down by 10. Westcliff never gave up against the #1 seed in the bracket. Westmont ultimately came up with the win 62-47.
The Women's Basketball team set a new bar here at Westcliff University. Even though they were seeded as #16 against the #1 seeded Westmont who are also the defending NAIA National Champions. Westcliff earned respect from the Westmont team and administration for not giving them an easy win in the opening round. Westcliff Women's Basketball earned the ticket to the National Championship in their 1st year of eligibility that some teams wait decades for. No one can take away from this team what they accomplished this season. No other team here at Westcliff can be the 1st team to make it to the NAIA National Championship. That honor belongs to the Women's Basketball team of 2021-2022.
Top Performers
Neyha Lali - 21 Points and 5 Rebounds
Trinity Vasquez - 8 Points, 4 Rebounds and 3 Steals
Laura Tapia - 7 Points, 8 Rebounds and 2 Steals
Bailey Hawkins - 8 Points, 6 Rebounds and 2 Steals