All-American Colleen Planeta scored 31 points to lead the No. 4-ranked Sea Lions to a 73-64 season-opening win over Westminster (UT) Thursday afternoon in the Behnken Field House. PLNU (1-0) is competing at the Westminster Fall Classic Tournament and will next play Montana Western on Friday at 4:00 pm (cst). UMW lost to Westmont 67-57 in an earlier game Thursday.

Planeta went 14-for-18 from the field and was 2-of-4 from the free throw line. The senior forward also registered four blocks, three assists and three rebounds. Junior guard Amanda Franz added 12 points on a 5-of-9 shooting effort and had four steals.

Senior guard Liah Ector poured in 11 points and pulled down six boards while sophomore PJ Hanson went 4-for-5 from the field and hit a free throw for nine total points for PLNU. Junior Danielle Arriola returned to the court after a year off due to injury to contribute five assists.

The Sea Lions shot an outstanding 59 percent from the field while thee Griffins shot 48 percent. WC stayed as close to PLNU as they did by sinking 11 threes, though they attempted 27. Westminster turned the ball over 24 times.

PLNU trailed early but a hot streak midway into the first half put the visitors ahead for good. The Sea Lions went into the break up 30-18. Westminster (2-1) outscored PLNU 46-43 over the final 20 minutes but it was too-little-too late.

"It took us awhile to get started," said Planeta. "Being down to a good team like Westminster, on their own court is tough. But we came out of it well and started clicking. Our defense got us going and our offense followed."

Olivia Pierce-Eiselein led the Griffins with 19 points on a 6-for-9 effort and pulled down eight rebounds. Kashia Catten added 13 points and four assists, while Dane Evans hit on four treys for 12 total points.