The Webster University women's basketball team extended its winning streak to three with an 83-41 win over Robert Morris University-Peoria, on December 7 at Grant Gymnasium. Once again the Gorlok's suffocating defense yielded 36 turnovers and their up tempo offense generated a bushel of fast break points and lay ups.
As against Robert Morris-Springfield two nights earlier, the Gorlok pressure defense was doing its job wreaking havoc on the Eagles. Webster's offense got off to a slow start with several missed lay ups before it starting to ring up numbers on the scoreboard. Webster wound up leading, 21-10, with Jaysea Morgan (FR, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) dropping in a lay up at the buzzer to end the first period. Robert Morris had 15 turnovers in the period as Webster picked up 10 steals.
The second period saw the Gorloks pick it up on offense, hitting eight of 13 shots after hitting 10 of 23 in the first. Webster wound up shooting 50% (18-36) overall on the half with Natalie Busscher (SO, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) leading the team with eight points. Jade Sawyer (FR, Republic, MO/Springfield) and Megan Brandt (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) each had seven points.
Webster held onto a comfortable lead through the third period, ending the frame up 57-35. The Gorloks shooting cooled off with the team hitting just five of 26 shots in the period, but grabbing 10 offensive rebounds...mostly off their own misses. The Gorloks started the fourth period with a 16-2 run to open up a 73-37 lead. By the time the run was over, only 3:30 was left in the contest. Webster wound up outscoring Robert Morris, 26-6, in the period for the 83-41 final.
The Gorloks pounded the boards in the game, winning the rebound battle, 46-31, including 20 offensive rebounds. Robert Morris wound up with 36 turnovers, just shy of the 38 Webster's opponents have been averaging per contest. Webster kept up its 84 points per game average in the win. Thirteen of the 15 Gorloks who played got into the scoring column.
Busscher was the high scorer for Webster with 15 points, followed by Brandt's 13. Kaitlin Snyder (SR, Maroa, IL/Maroa-Forsyth) had 11 points on 5-8 shooting. Kelsey Miller (JR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) had a team high six assists and had three steals. Morgan finished with six poionts and a team-high four steals.
Webster is now 6-1, its best start since the 2001-02 season when the team had its best ever at 7-1. Robert Morris University-Peoria is a member of the USCAA. The Gorloks (1-0) continue play in the SLIAC with a game at Westminster College, on December 10 in Fulton, MO.
