Box Score A come from behind victory propelled the Webster University women's basketball team to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship final as they defeated Eureka College, 67-63, on February 28 in Louisville, KY.
As she has done most of the season 's final stretch run, senior guard Kaliann Rikard (Cuba, MO/Cuba HS) shined in the win as she had a team-high 19 points, seven assists, and five steals. Rikard was 5-10 from the field and a perfect 8-8 at the free throw line, including several in the final minutes that helped close out the Webster win.
Junior center Cassie Endicott (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial HS) had 14 points, tied for the team-high with nine rebounds, and blocked eight Red Devil shots. In the process, Endicott upped her season total to 72 and broke the Webster single season record for blocks, previously held by Myrtie Reilly (70 in 2008). She already holds the career high record with 153 blocks.
Sophomore guard Ashley Brooks (Hermann, MO/Hermann HS) had 15 points, all dialed up from three-point range as she went 5-11 beyond the arc.
After an early Gorloks lead, the Red Devils led throughout the remainder of the first half, taking a 35-27 halftime lead. Brooks helped keep the Gorloks in range, scoring 12 points, on four three-pointers, for the half.
In the second half, after falling behind by as many as 11 points, a Brooks three-pointer tied the game up, 48-48, and another three-pointer by Mia Williams (SO, St. Louis, MO/Hazelwood West HS) gave Webster its first lead since early in the contest, 51-50, with 7:51 remaining.
The Gorloks extended their lead to 55-50, but the Red Devils pulled even at 59-59, with 2:55 remaining. Webster took a 63-59 lead on a Rikard jumper with 1:32 left in the contest. Rikard hit all four of her free throws for Webster in the final minute to hang on to the victory.
Webster is 17-9 on the season with the win and has won 11 of its last 13 games. The Gorloks will play in the championship on March 1. Webster will face host Spalding University in the final. Spalding defeated Westminster College, 70-64, to reach the championship final.
