The Webster University women's basketball team won a true 'Battle of Big Bend', coming from behind to win at Fontbonne University, 74-71, on February 6 in Clayton, MO. The Gorloks trailed for most of the contest and trailed by nine entering the fourth period, but a late rally secured a much needed win in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Megan Brandt (FR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) hit a free throw at 3:37 to give Webster its first lead, at 66-65, since the first basket of the contest. A Brandt layup at 1:33 tied it back up at 70-70. After a missed pair of free throws by both Fontbonne and Webster, the Gorloks got the ball back on a turnover and Kelsey Miller (SO, Elizabeth, IN/South Central HS) connected on a three-pointer to give them a 73-71 lead with 11 seconds left. Fontbonne turned the ball over again and a Miller free throw with seven seconds left made it the 74-71 final.
After trailing three periods, 60-51, Webster started the fourth with an 8-0 run to close within one, at 60-59. A pair of free throws by Nadine Vaughn (JR, Pana,IL/Pana HS) at 4:36 tied the game up at 65-65.
Webster trailed, 16-13, after one period and, 39-32, at the half. It was a sloppy half with each team turning the ball over 17 times. Fontbonne controlled play under the basket, outrebounding Webster, 23-13, and outscoring them, 18-8, in the paint. Miller had 12 points for Webster, all coming from beyond the three-point line as she went 4-6, making all Gorlok threes in the half.
The sloppy play continued in the third as both teams had combined for 50 turnovers by the end of the period. But Fontbonne continued to dominate under the basket as well as it maintained a 31-17 edge in rebounds and 30-18 scoring in the paint. The Griffins had eight more turnovers in the fourth period as the Gorloks wound up forcing 35 total Fontbonne miscues in the game. In the end, Webster was able to overcome Fontbonne's 42-23 edge on the boards with the 30 points it scored off Griffin turnovers.
Miller wound up with a season-high 26 points, on 7-10 shooting...all from beyond the arc. She was 5-6 from the free throw line and chipped in with three rebounds and two assists. Brandt finished with 13 points on 5-8 shooting and had four steals, and Aley Lucas (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) had 12 points and five rebounds.
Vaughn had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds. Taylor Lucas (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) hit double figures in scoring with 10 points on 5-8 shooting and had four steals.
Webster is now 8-6 in the SLIAC and in the hunt for a SLIAC tournament spot. The Gorloks are 11-10 overall. Fontbonne falls to 6-8 and 7-13 with the loss.
The Gorloks travel to Jacksonville, IL, on February 10 to face MacMurray College. Webster will play at first place Westminster College, in Fulton, MO, on February 13.
