The Gorlok basketball teams will renew their rivalry with the Griffins of Fontbonne University in what has come to be known as “The Battle of Big Bend,” on Tuesday, February 22, This season’s second meeting will have implications for the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post-season tournament, a large one for the men.
No matter how teams at either school are doing in the standings, the games always seem to stir excitement, but there wasn’t much of a rivalry as the teams started SLIAC play together. The Fontbonne women built a 22-2 win/loss edge early in the series as Webster struggled to build a program. The Gorloks have evened it up a bit in recent years as the Griffins own a more modest 12-8 edge since 2002. Similarly, the Griffins built a 13-2 edge over the Webster men early on, but since 1997 the Gorloks have turned the tails and have gone 20-9, evening the series overall at 22-22.
For the Webster men, a win on Tuesday night would lock up the #1 seed in the tournament, and assure Webster the home advantage as host team. Westminster College, Spalding University (KY), and Webster all are tied for first in the SLIAC at 12-3. If the Gorloks remain tied with Westminster after the final conference game, Webster holds the tie-breaker by virtue of its sweep against Spalding. Spalding and Westminster split this season. Spalding is not eligible for post-conference play as it completes a probationary entry period for the NCAA.
On the women’s side, there is less drama in regards to SLIAC conference implications. No matter the outcome of the contest, Webster and Fontbonne will meet again in the first round of the SLIAC tournament on February 24 at Westminster. The winner will face either Westminster or Blackburn College (IL) in the championship on February 26. A Webster win on Tuesday would tie the Gorloks and Griffins up at 11-5 in the SLIAC. Webster would be the #2 seed in the tournament because of beating Fontbonne head to head in conference. A loss would drop Webster to 10-6 and the #3 seed.
The first round of the men's tournament will be on February 25, with the championship to follow on February 26 as well. Webster players on both squads will be looking for a crowd decked out in gold in support of the Gorloks at Fontbonne on the 22nd. The women’s game will start at 6:00 p.m., with the men following at 8:00 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
