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BOX SCORE)
The energy dial got cranked up in the Webster women's basketball locker room at halftime, and the Gorloks rode that wave of intensity to the 72-62 victory over MacMurray in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday at Grant Gymnasium.
Webster fell behind 10 at the break and 13 following the first possession of the second half, but answered with a 20-4 run that gave the Gorloks the lead and the momentum. The Highlanders burned two timeouts during the stretch in an attempt to stem the tide - the second of which seemed to do the trick. MacMurray responded to score seven straight to reclaim the lead - temporarily.
Unfazed, the Gorloks clamped down defensively and ran the Highlanders out of Grant Gymnasium. Forcing four turnovers in a four-minute span, Webster put the game away with a 23-4 run - turning a three-point deficit into a 15-point bulge.
As well as WU played in the second half, the first 20 minutes could have been classified as being on the other end of the spectrum. With a winless MacMurray team playing for a brand new head coach, the Highlanders literally took the game to the Gorloks. MacMurray shot 43 percent and owned the glass with a 24-16 margin in taking the halftime lead.
Making matters worse for the host Gorloks was the inability to make open shots as they hit on a mere 28.1 percent from the field in the opening stanza.
Freshman
Ayrica Lockett, in her first start of the season, achieved a new career-high with 14 points and added eight boards for good measure. Sophomore
Katy Meyer recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Junior
Julie McGirl and freshman Courtney Brown both added 12 points in the victory. McGirl distributed four assists, while Brown had a career-high five steals.
Webster (3-3 overall, 1-1 SLIAC) will step away from conference action 2 p.m. Sunday when it hosts Rust College.
QUOTES
HEAD COACH JORDAN OLUFSON
on the second half
"Energy. We came out flat, expecting to win and not earning it. Our effort level (in the second half) was 100 percent better."
on slow starts
"Our mental preparation has to be better. Our preparation in practice, film study and shootarounds. We need that attention to detail. Some of it is because we are so young, and (the players) never needed this level of preparation. It's a concern, but it's fixable.
on Ayrica Lockett
"That is probably the hardest I've seen Ayrica play. She ran the floor and made them guard her."
on Katy Meyer
"Katy Meyer is consistent. She probably gets overlooked more than anybody on our team. I don't know if its because of expectations, but she (plays well) every night."
NOTES
- Ayrica Lockett received her first career start of the season, stepping in for freshman Tori Fenemor - who was hurt in practice Friday. She became the fifth different leading scorer for the Gorloks in six games.
- Katy Meyer had a season-high 12 rebounds, just three away from her career-high. It was the second time this season she reached double figures on the boards.
- The Gorloks are now 2-2 when scoring more than 70 points.
- Freshman Megan Willett scored a career-high nine points in the victory. Her previous career high was six, set twice this season.
- With just nine points, it was just the second time all season the team's leading scored - freshman Blaire Underwood - didn't reach at least 10 points. However, the Gorloks are 2-0 in those contests.
