The Webster University women's basketball team won a big St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match up, beating Fontbonne University 75-70, on January 6 at Grant Gymanasium.  In a game that will help kindle the 'Battle of Big Bend', the Gorloks led throughout but constantly had to fend off the Griffins' attack to secure the victory.

Webster had several stand out performances in the contest that was deemed the 'Game of the Week' by the SLIAC.  Taylor Lucas (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) had a career and team game-high 17 points, and also led the Gorloks with nine rebounds and four assists in the win.  Lucas was 8-11 from the field, helping the Gorloks to a season high 55% (27-49) from the field for the game.

Nadine Vaughn (JR, Pana, IL/Pana HS) had 12 points and eight rebounds.  Vaughn shot 3-4 from the field and 6-7 from the free-throw line in the game.  Ashley Brooks (SR, Hermann, MO/Hermann HS) came off the bench to score 10 points and Aley Lucas (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) had seven rebounds and four points in just nine minutes of action.

A trio of Fontbonne three-pointers helped pulled the Griffins ahead of Webster mid-way through the third period, 55-47.  A three-pointer by Kelsey Miller (SO, Elizabeth, IN/South Central HS) staked Webster to a lead to open the fourth and the Gorloks extended their edge to 66-59.  The Griffins closed to within 72-70 with 36 seconds remaining, but the Gorloks hit their free throws to hang on.

After a fast-paced first period, the Gorloks led, 20-15.  Brooks came off the bench to spark Webster with eight points in just four minutes.  Webster pounded Fontbonne on the boards in the period, pulling down 14 rebounds to the Griffins' five.  In the second period, a Griffin three-pointer at 2:40 gave them their first lead since the game's opening seconds, 34-33.  But Webster quickly regained the lead with a pair of layups and led, 37-34, at the half.

Webster would wind up the game with a 43-24 edged in rebounds.  Thirteen players saw action for Coach Jordan Oluson, now the career leader in wins for Webster with 106.

The Gorloks improved to 4-1 in the SLIAC and 7-5 overall.  Fontbonne fell to 2-3 in the SLIAC and 3-8 overall.

Webster is home again on January 9 vs. MacMurray College (IL) and ends a four-game homestand with a game vs. Westminster College on January 13.