(Fontbonne Game Notes)
Since Webster’s overtime win over Fontbonne in the first meeting, unfortunately for the Gorloks, the two teams have headed in opposite directions.
The Griffins used their defeat as motivation for a five-game winning streak, while WU has struggled winning just three of the next eight games. Part of the difficulties is due to injuries, but Webster has to play the game with the players available in uniform.
Freshmen forwards Ayrica Lockett and Myrtie Reilly were huge factors in Webster’s 82-76 victory in the first go-around. The duo combined for 38 points, 26 rebounds and seven blocks as the Gorloks owned the interior with a scoring advantage of 48-26 in the paint. Reilly had all seven of the blocks – five of which came in the second half and overtime period.
How will the Griffins adjust to the 6-3 Reilly in the middle? How will Webster handle the Griffin pressure without the presence of the two guards that amply handled the FU press?
In the first game, FU continued to drive the ball to the basket, and were continually turned away by the Webster defense. Fontbonne is second in the SLIAC in scoring offense with 68.2 points per game. Its primary downfall comes in the inability to keep teams from scoring as the Griffins are last in scoring defense, yielding 74.3 points per game.
Fontbonne’s backcourt of Kathryn Kirby and Calli Collier are scoring nearly 25 points for the Griffins, and has combined to hit 86 of the team’s 143 three-pointers. The pair could be licking their chops as the will be facing the league’s worth 3-point percentage defense.
While the Griffins hold an advantage on the perimeter, Webster holds a significant advantage on the inside. The post play of Lockett, Reilly, junior Julie McGirl and sophomore Katy Meyer pose some match-up difficulties for the Griffins.
Each member of the quartet is scoring around 10 points for the Gorloks, not giving opponent’s one key member to focus on. Reilly and Lockett are currently leading the way with 10.7 points, while Meyer is netting 10.5 points and McGirl is getting 9.8 points.
Meyer is an inside/outside threat as she is second on the team with 34 three-pointer and is currently eighth all-time in the category. She is joined on the perimeter by freshman Blaire Underwood, who is leading the team with 42 three-pointer, and is closing in on the single-season record.
