The Webster University women's basketball team saw its four-game win streak come to an end with a 75-66 loss to Eureka College, on December 17, at Grant Gym. The Gorloks were bidding for the best start to a season in program history. Webster's 7-1 record to open the season tied the 2001-02 team's start.
In what was selected as the SLIAC Game of the Week, Webster suffered its first loss in conference, as visiting Eureka remained unbeaten. Despite committing 31 turnovers in the contest, the Red Devils were better able to handle the Gorloks pressure defense than previous opponents. The Gorloks were cold from both the free throw line and the three-point line in the game.
After a three-pointer by Paige Buechele (SR, Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) on their first possession, the Gorloks had a hard time getting their offense unwound. Tied at 6-6 midway through the first period, the Red Devils went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead. A Taylor Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) lay up at 3:00 broke the drought. Webster wound up the period down, 17-16
The Gorloks took a 27-25 lead in the second period, as both teams had trouble handling the ball in the early going as opposed to a first period with limited mistakes. Eureka went on to take a lead and finished the half up, 41-35. The Red Devils had nine turnovers as the Gorloks had six in the frame, and Eureka out rebounded Webster for the half, 18-12.
Webster closed to within two, 41-39, to open the third period, but Eureka responded with a pair of three-pointers and two free throws to extend its lead to 10, 49-39. Webster went on a 6-0 run to close to 49-45. The Red Devils had a 9-1 spree to regain a 10-point lead at 56-46, before the Gorloks scored the final five points of the period to trail 56-51. Despite Eureka committing 12 turnovers in the period, Webster was only able to shave a point off the lead.
Eureka opened up the scoring in the fourth with a three, but Webster's Jaysea Morgan (FR, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) responded on the following possession with a three for the Gorloks. A Morgan lay up at 6:50 edged Webster within two at 61-59. But the Red Devils had one more 9-1 run that put the Gorloks in too deep of a hole to dig out of, at 70-60, with two minutes remaining.
Webster finished 3-17 (17.6%) from the three-point line and were just 13-25 (52%) from the charity stripe. Eureka finished with a 19 board advantage as well, out rebounding the Gorloks, 44-25, for the afternoon. Coming into the contest, Webster opponents were averaging over 36 turnovers and the Gorloks over 20 steals per game for the season. Eureka finished with 31 turnovers and Webster had 19 steals.
Kelsey Miller (JR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) had a team-high 14 points and Ebony Bailey (JR, Dolton, IL/Seton Academy) came off the bench to score 12 points on 5-8 shooting. Taylor Lucas had 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. Morgan finished with 10 points for the game and had five rebounds and four steals coming off the bench. Jade Sawyer (FR, Republic, MO/Springfield Republic had a team-high six assists and had six points, also coming off the bench.
Webster is now 2-1 in the SLIAC and 7-2 overall. Eureka is 3-0 and 6-4 overall. Webster leads the all-time series vs. Eureka, 12-11. The Gorloks have 12 days off before hosting the University of Dallas on December 29 at Grant. They host Central College (IA) the following day on December 30.
