![Fourth-Quarter Free Throws Secure Significant CL Win for Taylor](/images/2022-23/WomenBasketball/Dale_Goshen.jpg)
Fourth-Quarter Free Throws Secure Significant CL Win for Taylor
Broadcast Highlights | Westgate Beats First Quarter Buzzer
UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor women's basketball team won a significant Crossroads League matchup with Saint Francis (10-13, 6-7 CL) on Saturday afternoon, moving into sole possession of fourth place in the league standings.
The Trojans (14-9, 7-6 CL) won by a final score of 73-60, even while failing to record a single made field goal in the fourth quarter. Throughout the final frame of basketball, Taylor capitalized on an aggressive Cougar defense that nurtured 18 trips to the free-throw line where the Trojans scored 15 times.
While free throws in crunch time helped seal the deal for Taylor, an electric first-half offense paved the way toward victory. At the half, TU led 47-29 while knocking down nine three-point field goals along the way.
Maycee Woods and Ariel Dale served as the Trojan sharpshooters, with Woods shooting 4-4 from deep in the first half while Dale went 3-5. Woods and Dale combined for 24 first-half points, while TU forward Taylor Westgate added 13 of her own.
En route to its 18-point halftime lead, Taylor shot 58.1 percent from the floor and a remarkable 60.0 percent from three-point land.
The second half was a different story, however, as the Trojans shot just 3-19 from the floor and 1-9 from three in the final 20 minutes of play. Even so, strong rebounding and a calm presence at the charity stripe helped Taylor secure its third win in a row.
The Trojans outrebounded Saint Francis 19-11 in the second half, while only allowing a pair of Cougar offensive boards. At the free throw line, meanwhile, Taylor went 19-24 including all 15 of its fourth-quarter points.
Dale finished the game a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line, boosting her game total to a season-high 18 points. Woods posted a total of 17 points, while Westgate ended with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.
The native of Marion, Indiana, now sits at 975 career points, just 25 away from the 1,000-career point milestone.
Westgate will look to hit that mark next Wednesday, February 1, when the Trojans travel to play Huntington (9-14, 4-9 CL) at 7:00 pm.