Frankfort, Ky. • Despite an offensive cold spell in the first half, the Westminster women’s basketball team roared back to defeat St. Catharine, 69-55, in the opening round of the 2013 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship.

The fifth-ranked Griffins (28-3) play Faulkner (Ala.) in the second round Friday at 10:30 a.m. MT.

Although Westminster led by as many as nine points in the first half, it went scoreless the final 6 minutes, 52 seconds of the first half, and trailed 34-27 at the break.

Led by Brooke Larson’s 10 second-half points, the Griffins scored 42 points and built a 67-51 lead.

Nicole Yazzie scored 17 points with four assists to lead Westminster, while Allie Eastman added 15 points.