(St. Louis, Mo.) – The Webster Gorloks women’s basketball squad gave the Maryville University Saints all it wanted in a 67-60 loss at Maryville on Wednesday evening.

    The Gorloks (10-13, 4-10 SLIAC) got off to a good start on both ends of the floor holding a 6-3 advantage for nearly the first four minutes of the contest while holding the Saints (20-3, 14-0 SLIAC) to just 2-of-10 from the floor during that stretch. Maryville would take over from their going on a 30-3 run lasting nearly 12 minutes. The Saints defense turned 20 Webster turnovers into 24 points and held WU to just one field goal in that stretch. The Gorloks would battle back however closing the frame by scoring 16 of the final 18 points to get within 35-23 at the intermission. After making only three field goals in its first 16 attempts WU heated up by knocking down 5-of-7 during the rest of the half to finish the frame shooting 35 percent while the Saints were just a bit better making 39 percent (13-of-33).

    Michelle McQueen had the big half for Webster scoring nine points on a trio of threes. Julie McGirl had six while Katy Meyer finished with four.

    Webster continued to stay within striking distance early in the second stanza as each side traded bucket for bucket for the first seven minutes. It looked Maryville was about ready to pull with an 8-0 run that pushed the lead from nine to 17 in a two minute stretch but just like in the opening frame the Gorloks refused to go away and actually got within one at 59-58 on a pair of free throws by McGirl at the 4:05 mark. After a lay-up by Megan McCabe put the Saints back up three WU had a chance to tie the game but McQueen’s three from the top of the key rimmed out and Meyer came up with the rebound but her pass back out was deflected and stolen which resulted in a jumper by Kimberly Douglass to push the lead to 63-58 with 2:13 to play. Webster had a couple of chances to cut the lead back down but had a turnover and missed jumper in the span of a minute which forced it to send Maryville to the line making all four of its free throws in the final 0:30 to hold off the upset bid.

    McGirl had a season-high 21 points, one shy of her career high, to lead the Gorloks. McQueen had 12 while Meyer finished with 10.