The Webster University women's basketball team lost at Greenville College, 81-76, on January 21 in Greenville, IL. The Panthers came from behind in the fourth period to topple the Gorloks, despite a career-high 23 points from Jade Sawyer.
Webster led 17-15 after one period. The Gorloks forced 11 turnovers and had seven steals for the period. A Sawyer (FR, Republic, MO/Springfield Republic) lay up at 5:31 gave Webster a 23-20 lead, but a Greenville 10-0 propelled it to a 30-23 lead at 3:34 of the second. Kelsey Miller (JR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) ended the Webster scoring drought with a basket for the Gorloks at 2:58.
Webster would end the half with a 12-1 run. Another Sawyer lay up and pair of free throws, sandwiched around a Miller lay up, tied the game at 31-31 with :51 left in the half. Taylor Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) hit a jumper to put the Gorloks up, 33-31, and two more Sawyer free throws gave them a halftime lead, 35-31. Webster forced 11 more turnovers in the second, giving Greenville 22 for the half. Despite shooting 1-8 from the three-point line, the Gorloks shot 44.8% (13-29) overall for the half and were 8-9 (88.8%) from the free throw line.
The Gorloks started off 3-8 from the free throw line before finishing 6-11 in the third period. Webster only forced two turnovers after pressuring 22 in the first two periods, and were getting beat on the boards, 35-19, after three periods. But despite these woes, Webster still escaped the period with a 55-54 lead.
Greenville overpowered Webster in the fourth period, though. The Panthers continued to handle the Webster pressure defense. Greenville had only four turnovers in the period and six for the half, after 22 miscues in the first. Greenville controlled the boards, 8-4, in the period and dominated at 43-23 on the afternoon. With a 51.9% (28-54) to 44.1% (26-59) shooting edge from the field for Greenville on the afternoon also, it was too much for the Gorloks to overcome.
Sawyer scored her 23 points in just her second start on the season. She is averaging 9.8 points per game, second on the team behind Miller, who had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Taylor Lucas had 12 points and Aley Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had 10 points for the game.
The Gorloks concluded a four-game road stretch with a 2-2 record. Webster is now 5-4 in the SLIAC and fell from a tie for second place to fourth with the loss. The Gorloks are 12-5 overall on the season. Greenville is 6-3 in the SLIAC, in second place, and is 11-6 overall.
Webster returns to its home court when it hosts Morthland College (IL) on January 24 at Grant Gym.
