PHOENIX, Ariz. – Forward Kristen Ward erupted for 47 points, 26 in the first half, and led Johnson and Wales University (4-8) from Denver, Colorado, to a 96-79 collegiate women's basketball over Arizona Christian University (3-3), in Friday, December 7 action at the Arizona Christian Women's Basketball Classic in Fultz Memorial Gym in Phoenix. 

Arizona Christian, guided by second-year head coach Jerry Conner, meets Rocky Mountain on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m., with Johnson and Wales going against CSU-San Marcos at 2 p.m. CSU-San Marcos (4-9) defeated Rocky Mountain (2-4), 73-65, in Friday's late afternoon game. 

Ward, a 5 foot, 7 inch sophomore, hit 16 of 22 field goals and went 5-for-8 from three-point range and 10-for-13 from the free throw line, all in the second half, and also gathered 14 rebounds and stole the ball from ACU five times. Ward scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the first half as JWU led by as many as 12 points, 46-34, with 51 seconds left in the first half, and the Wildcats took a 46-37 lead into the halftime locker room. 

The Wildcats led the entire second half and led by 10 or more points over the last 7:39 of the game. JWU held three 17-point leads in the final 1:32. JWU led ACU, 14-6, in three-point field goals and 26-19 in free throws made, and also out-rebounded ACU, 58-56, including 20 offensive boards. The teams combined for 47 fouls and 64 free throw attempts. 

Four of the seven JWU players on the travel roster scored 11 or more points, led by Ward's career-high 47 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Samantha Neal also finished with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, made 4 three-pointers, passed six assists and had three steals, and senior guard Caitlin Durkin added 11 points, 2 three-pointers, six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Freshman guard Amanda Weber contributed 11 points, 2 three- pointers, four rebounds, one assist and one steal, and reserve guard Tori Curneen scored six points, gathered eight rebounds and had one three-pointer, three assists and two steals. 

Sophomore forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.), ACU's leading scorer and rebounder, finished with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, made 9 of 14 shots and had two steals, and junior guard Tenisha Royston (Shiprock, N.M./Shiprock H.S./Scottsdale CC) totaled 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior guard Paula Clendaniel (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega H.S./York College (Neb.) added 11 points, 3 three-pointers, and two assists, and senior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup. N.M./Rehoboth Christian School) contributed seven points, one three-pointer, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal. Freshman guard Kiara White (Phoenix, Ariz./Washington H.S.) added five points and seven rebounds.