Master's books spot in GSAC Championship

No. 7 TMU Women's Basketball has avenged two of its three regular season losses so far in the GSAC Tournament, defeating Vanguard University in the quarterfinals on Thursday before taking down (RV) Hope International University, 63-53, in the semifinals on Friday.
 
Master's will now get the chance to complete its revenge tour, when the second-seeded Mustangs take on top-seeded and No. 2 Westmont College in the GSAC Championship on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
"I love the way we're competing right now," Master's Head Coach Lisa Zamroz said. "Nothing comes easy at this point and we fought hard for that one."
 
TMU appears to be regaining its footing at the right time, rebounding from a stretch in which it lost three of its final seven games to close the regular season after beginning the campaign with the program's best-ever start to a season (22-0).
 
The first of those losses came at the hands of Westmont, the reigning NAIA national champions, on TMU's home court on Jan. 29.
 
Almost a month later, Master's will look to reverse its fortunes in a rematch of the last GSAC title game in 2020, which Westmont won 76-67.
 
"I'm proud of the way this group is coming together," Zamroz said.
 
On Friday against Hope International, after a back-and-forth first quarter, the Mustangs opened the second period on a 9-0 run.
 
TMU held HIU to just one made field goal and five points in the quarter, helping Master's take an 11-point lead into the half, 30-19.
 
The Royals were able to get their offense going again in the third quarter, scoring 20 points to get to within single digits.
 
After almost giving up a double-digit lead the night before against Vanguard, the Mustangs kept their foot on the gas in the final stanza on Friday, extending their lead to as many as 16 before clinching their spot in the conference championship game.
 
Ella Brubaker led TMU with 17 points, while Stephanie Soares recorded a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds. Allyson Pettit added 10 points, hitting two of the team's three 3-pointers.
 
In Saturday's championship, Master's (28-3 overall) will look to match its record for most wins in a season (29), set in 2019-20, and win its first GSAC Tournament title since 2015.