In an electrifying finish, the Webster University women's basketball team felt ecstacy then agony as Greenville College hit a three-pointer with :02 left on the clock for a 55-53 win. The Gorloks had taken the lead on a pair of free throws with just 6.2 seconds left before the Panthers' game-winner.
A Greenville free throw with 19 seconds left in the game gave them a 52-51 lead. After a Gorlok missed shot, Nadine Vaughn (JR, Pana, IL/Pana HS) was fouled on the scramble for the rebound with 6.2 seconds remaining. Vaughn calmly nailed both free throws to give Webster a 53-52 lead but it was short lived. Greenville player Taylor Paulin was found open outside the three-point line and drained her shot for the game winner with two seconds left. It was the Panther's first three in the game after eight misses.
The contest got off to a slow start with Webster trailing, 4-1, after three minutes of play. An Ashley Brooks (SR, Hermann, MO/Hermann HS) three-pointer tied it up at 4-4 as the pace picked up. Alyssa Sapp (SR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone HS) drained a three to put the Gorloks ahead, 15-14, to end the first period. The teams traded baskets throughout the second period, as there were 13 lead changes total for the half, and Webster entered the locker room up, 32-31.
Another close played period found Webster trailing, 41-39, after the third. Both teams continued to battle as leads changed in the fourth. Webster led by one, 48-47, with 2:31 to play when Taylor Lucas (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) was called for her fifth foul in the game. A technical was also called on the play, giving Greenville a bonus free throw. The Panthers took advantage, hitting all three for a 50-48 lead. Brooks hit a three-pointer with 1:20 left to tie the game once again for Webster, at 51-51, leading to the exciting final moments
Taylor Lucas had a team-high 13 points and had five rebounds before fouling out. Vaughn finished with four points, but had team-highs in rebounds (9) and assists (7) for the Gorloks. Kennedy Hartman (JR, Sidney, IL/Unity HS) had seven points, four rebounds, and two steals coming off the bench. Brooks finished with eight points, five rebounds, and two steals, also coming off the bench.
Webster is 5-5 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 8-9 overall. The Gorloks have a four-game losing streak with the loss. Greenville improves to 8-2 in the SLIAC and 12-5 overall.
The Gorloks host Principia College at Grant on January 26. Webster hits the road on January 30 as it heads to Eureka, IL, to take on Eureka College.
