Concordia Women's Basketball kicked off its 2017-2018 campaign with a win over Westminster College Friday in CU Arena. The Eagles defeated the Griffins 67-59 in the non-conference matchup and are now 1-0 on the year. 

In Michaela Vanderklugt's Eagle debut, the freshman from Concord, Calif. posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Montana Walters posted 12 points, all of which came from three-pointers. Freshman Reilly Walsh tallied 11 points with six assists and a steal. Portia Neale also added 11 to go along with two assists and two steals. 

Down 11-8 at the start of the first quarter, Walters worked up her first of four three-pointers to even the score. Walsh followed with one of her own before Walters sunk another to extend the lead to six. Neale then nailed two free throws for the early eight point lead. Concordia closed out the first period with shot from Sopavy Seng for three. Ahead 24-16 at the opening of the second,  Kennedy Fulcher hit a shot from outside the arch to push the lead to eleven. The Griffins fought back in the second, but Walters answered again with a three-pointer to help the Eagles end the half with a 40-29 advantage. 

The momentum carried into the third quarter for Concordia. They went up by 19 on the three from Vanderklugt, but Westminster wasn't ready to call it a game and by the end of the period, they cut the Eagle lead to 10. Throughout the fourth, the Griffins chipped away at Concordia's lead, but never got within five. 

Next Thursday, Concordia faces the University of Montevallo at 7 p.m. in CU Arena. The Falcons are 0-2 on the year.