The Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team won its third consecutive game to start the 2022-23 season, defeating Westminster (Mo.) 79-50 at the Lauren Hill Tip Off Classic at the Harrington Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on the campus of Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Spartans improved to 3-0 on the season, while the Blue Jays fell to 1-3.

Senior guard/forward Isabella Mills led all scorers with 20 points and added four rebounds and three assists. First-year guard/forward Emily Plachta scored 15 points for the third consecutive game. Sophomore forward Kayla Characklis, junior guard Margaret Terry, and sophomore guard Nyah Moore each added eight points. Terry had a team-high 11 rebounds with Characklis contributing seven boards.

CWRU started strong, beginning the game on an 11-0 run. After a three-pointer by Westminster, the Spartans again went on an 11-0 run to lead by 19 on a layup by junior guard Sarah Mitchell. The Blue Jays cut the deficit to 18 by the end of the first quarter, trailing 30-12. The 30 points are the most in a quarter by Case Western Reserve in the young season.

The Spartans increased their lead to 25 by the end of the first half, outscoring the Blue Jays 19-12 in the second period. CWRU shot 53% from the field in the first 20 minutes of the contest, including 61.5% (eight-of-13) from beyond the arc.

A three-pointer by Plachta with 4:46 left in the three quarter gave Case Western Reserve a 42-point advantage, its largest of the afternoon. The Spartans never trailed in the contest, cruising to victory.

Overall, CWRU made 30 of its 65 shots (46.2%) and 50% of its three-point attempts (14-of-28). The Spartan defense held the Blue Jays to just 28.6% from the field.

The Spartans remain on the road, traveling to Berea, Ohio on Monday to face Baldwin Wallace at 7 p.m. at Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium.