(Greenville Game Notes)
With the first half of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season nearing an end, the Webster women are searching for a win.
The Gorloks, who have lost three of their last four games, would find themselves on the outside looking in if the season ended today. However, it doesn’t, and the Gorloks still have plenty to play for – starting with Saturday’s game at Greenville.
If the Gorloks are hoping to qualify for the SLIAC tournament, they will have to find a way to solve their issues away from Grant Gymnasium. Webster is currently 1-4 away from home, including 0-3 in road games.
They are led by the freshmen frontcourt of Ayrica Lockett and Myrtie Reilly. Lockett is coming off her fourth straight double-double performance, while Reilly recorded a career-high eight blocks against Principia. The 6-3 Reilly, who joined the Gorloks at the winter break, has recorded 28 blocks in her six games – and needs just 24 to break the single-season mark of 51. The 52 blocks would also leave her second all-time in the category.
While acting head coach Jordan Olufson has a glimpse of what he is getting from his frontcourt duo, it’s the perimeter play of sophomore Katy Meyer and freshman Blaire Underwood that could dictate the outcome of the game.
As with any team, when you are making shots, the game looks easy. The phrase couldn’t be more indicative of Webster’s fortunes this season. Meyer has reached double figures in seven games this season, and the Gorloks are 6-1 in those contests. In Webster victories this season, the sophomore forward is scoring 13.3 points on 47.8 percent shooting and 8.1 rebounds. In Gorlok defeats, she is only scoring 5.6 points on 23.2 percent shooting with 6.0 boards.
Underwood is second on the team in scoring with 10.9 points per game, and has converted a team-high 35 three-pointers this season. She is currently tied for fifth on the school’s single-season board with the 35 makes, and has the record of 49 well within her sights.
With all of the youth running the hardwood for the Gorloks, and following the loss of lone senior Erin Chesnek to injury, junior Julie McGirl is one of the stabilizing forces for the team. She recently moved into 10th place all-time in scoring with her 15-point performance against Principia.
Greenville, which has been victorious once in its last six games, has one player scoring more than nine points per game in senior Meredith Benal. The guard is scoring a team-high 10.1 points for a Panther squad that is tied for last in the SLIAC with 58.6 points per game. Sophomore guard Stacy Lawrence is second on the team with 8.7 points, and leads the team with 49 assists.
Defensively, they are faring better than the Gorloks – yielding just 68.4 points per contest. The Panthers are fourth in scoring defense, but their offensive difficulties are overshadowing any success they are having on the defensive side of the court. They are ranked next to last in scoring margin, getting outscored by more than 10 points per game.
Senior forward Danya Teiwes is leading the defensive efforts with a team-high 23 blocks.
