Box Score The Webster University women's basketball team lost to Central College (IA), 79-60, at Grant Gymnasium on December 19. Central pulled ahead midway through the first half and Webster never was able to challenge for the duration of the contest.
The Gorloks took a quick 5-0 lead in the opening minute of the game, on a three-pointer by Ashley Brooks (JR, Hermann, MO/Hermann HS) and a layup by Taylor Lucas (FR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS). But the Dutch answered with five quick points of their own to tie the game, and it was still tied, 11-11, with 12:30 left in the half.
Webster went through a seven-minute scoring draught as Central pulled to a 25-13 lead with 3:40 remaining in the first. Central continued to build its lead and the teams entered the locker room with the Gorloks down, 39-21. Sixteen Webster turnovers contributed to its first half woes.
Central expanded its lead to 25, at 49-24, at 17:20 in the second half. The Gorloks managed to chip away; closing within 14, at 61-47, on a Mia Williams (JR, St. Louis, MO/Hazelwood West HS) three-pointer. That is as close as the Gorloks would get though, with turnovers continuing to plague the team in the second half. The Dutch finished the game with a season-high 21 steals against the Gorloks.
Brittany Harris-Conway (JR, St. James, MO/John F. Hodge HS) finished with 18 points, going 10-12 from the free throw line, and had five rebounds. Williams tied Harris-Conway for the team lead with 18 points on the night.
Cassie Endicott (SR, Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial HS) wound up with 12 points and team-highs in rebounds (8), and blocks (4), on the evening. Endicott moved into 13th place on Webster's all-time career scoring list at 711, passing Michelle Irving (2001-04) who had 701 career points.
The Gorloks fall to 5-5 overall on the season. Central, a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conferenc, improves to 7-2 with the win.
Webster is off for two weeks over the holiday break, returning to action on January 3 at Eureka College (IL). The Gorloks return home on January 8 when they host Iowa Wesleyan College at Grant.
