Westmont adds to legend, handle Hawks

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 2, 2023

2022-23 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

SANTA BARBARA – Stefanie Berberabe, the career scoring leader in Westmont College women’s basketball history, was limited to just 8 points to match a season-low, but on the surface, the impressive statistic is extremely misleading.

The No. 4 nationally-ranked Warriors placed all of the starters on the bench midway through the second quarter, taking a 40-21 halftime lead on the way to a 73-51 decision over San Diego Christian College on Thursday (Feb. 2) .

The contest was the Hawks final appearance at Murchison Gymnasium in Golden State Athletic Conference play; Westmont has been accepted by the NCAA to move to Division II competition starting next school year.

Berberabe set the school mark last week at Arizona Christian, setting the new standard in nine fewer contests than the previous record-holder.

The victory also moved Westmont head coach Kirsten Moore one step closer to a 10th GSAC championship. Moore also owns a pair of NAIA national crowns, gaining her 400th carrer win earlier in the season.

Westmont (19-1 overall, 12-1 GSAC) has now captured 17 consecutive victories.

While Moore was polite in running up the score on San Diego Christian, the Hwks were unable to do anything about it last season. This gio-roundm, the imprving Hawks kept the around 20 throughout the second half under first-year head coach Anessa Wolfblack.

“Mamaeia Makoni and Brianna Humphries scored a team-best 13 points for SDC, combing to shoot 55 percent (11-for-20) from the field. Meanwhile, Jamee Joseph, in a rare non-start, came off the bench to tlly 10 pints.

For Westmont, Laila Saenz led with 12 points, while three others –Kate Goostrey, Sage Kramer and Bailey Fong — added 11 each.

San Diego Christian next plays Saturday at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, starting at 4:30 p.m.