The Webster University women's basketball team kept pace in the hunt for first place in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 106-69 win at MacMurray College, on January 16 in Jacksonville, IL. The Gorloks tied the single game record for points in a game, set earlier this season, with the 106 points in the victory.
The Gorloks piled up 60 first half points as they led, 60-30, at the break. Webster extended the lead to 88-47 after three periods as it pushed to set a new school record for points in a game. The Gorloks came up short...but tied the record of 106 set on December 5 in a game vs. Robert Morris-Springfield. Hannah Rowold (SO, Piedmont, MO/Clearwater) hit a pair of free throws for Webster to break the century mark with 2:18 left in the game, and a Brittney Zipprich (JR, Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) lay up at 00:54 tied the 106 mark.
The Highlanders kept pace in the fourth period vs. the Gorlok reserves with a flurry of three-pointers, with 21 of their 22 points coming from beyond the arc. Fifteen players saw the floor for Webster with 14 getting in the scoring column. The Webster bench scored 71 of the team's 106 points for the game. Webster forced 34 turnovers while picking up 22 steals in the contest, and added 22 assists. The Gorloks shot 76.7% from the free throw line.
The Gorloks continue to be one of the national leaders in the NCAA III in all of the aforementioned categories. Webster kept up or surpassed their season pace with its performance as it is second in turnovers forced (33.93), second in assists (19.5), and third in steals (18.2) per game. Webster is also 11th in offense (77.4 points per game) and 14th in free throw percentage (75.9).
Freshmen Jaysea Morgan (Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) and Jade Sawyer (Republic, MO/Springfield Republic) both came off the bench to lead Webster in points with 19 and 17, respectively. They picked up those totals in just 13 and 12 minutes of play. Morgan also had a team-high four steals on the afternoon. Aley Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO) also hit double figures with 10 points.
Webster has won 32 of the last 34 meetings with MacMurray, dating back to 2000, with single losses in 2009 and 2013 to the Highlanders.
Webster is now 5-2 and tied for 2nd place in the SLIAC, and is 12-3 overall. This was the second of four straight road games for the Gorloks, with the next scheduled for January 18 at Fontbonne University as the two schools renew the 'Battle of Big Bend' series.
