(St. Louis, Mo.) – It was a low scoring contest but the Webster Gorloks were able to hold off the Principia Panthers 51-47 on Saturday afternoon at Grant Gym. With the win Webster moves within a half-game of the fourth spot in the conference standings.
   
    The Gorloks (9-9, 3-6 SLIAC) dug themselves an early hole trailing 10-2 in the first five minutes of the game struggling on the offensive end making only 1-of-9 shots from the floor and were dominated on the boards by the taller Panthers (5-11, 3-7 SLIAC). Webster would find its offensive rhythm taking its first lead of the game at the 10:35 mark on a Michelle McQueen three-pointer, then the game went back and forth for about four minutes before the Gorloks finished the half strong taking a 26-20 lead into the locker room at intermission.
   
    Webster shot 37 percent (11-of-30) from the field while holding Principia to just 8-for-30 (27 percent) shooting in the frame. Julie McGirl had nine points in the frame while McQueen added six.

    WU quickly extended its lead to 10 points in the opening minutes of the second frame but the Panthers scratched and clawed their way back to tie the game at 32-32 with 11 minutes to play. The Gorloks stretched its lead to as much as seven points before Prin cut the lead to 46-45 with 0:19 remaining and had a chance to tie it but Andie Raffles missed the tying free throw and Katy Meyer grabbed the rebound and was fouled sending her to the line where she made both free tosses. After a Panther turnover McQueen made one of two to push the lead to four with 0:11 but a jumper by Raffles cut it back to two four seconds later. McGirl sealed the deal for Webster with a pair of free throws however with 0:05 seconds left.

    McGirl finished with a game-high 17 points while Meyer was right behind her with 16, all in the second half, and pulled down 11 boards for her fourth double-double of the season.