The Webster University women's basketball team won a key St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match up, defeating Westminster College, 83-50, on January 28 at Grant Gym. The Gorloks entered the contest tied with the Blue Jays for fourth place in the SLIAC and took over sole possession with the victory.
The Gorloks opened with an early lead in the first and by the 2:20 mark had extended it to 23-10, finishing the period up, 24-13. Webster forced eight turnovers in the period and outscored Westminster, 12-2, in points off turnovers. Kelsey Miller (JR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) hit double figures in the period with 10 points.
The Blue Jays closed to within seven at 28-21 with 5:00 remaining in the second, but a Natalie Busscher (SO, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) three-pointer jumped the lead back to double figures. Jade Sawyer (FR, Republic, MO/Springfield Republic) followed with a three-pointer to extend the lead to 34-21 at 3:00. Jaysea Morgan (FR, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) made it three straight three-pointers for the Gorloks.
Though the Blue Jays responded with a pair of lay ups, a trio of Miller three-pointers gave Webster six straight from beyond the arc. As a bonus, Miller was fouled on the last attempt and sunk the shot as Webster led 47-27 with 1:00 remaining in the half. Westminster hit a desperation attempt from five feet beyond mid-court to shave three points off, as Webster led, 47-30, at the half. Miller's point total ballooned to 20 points at the break.
An Ebony Bailey (JR, Dolton, IL/Seton Academy) steal and lay up with 3:00 left in the third gave Webster a 64-33 lead, its largest of the contest at that point. Webster ended the period up, 69-39. The Gorloks maintained a 30-point advantage for most of the fourth period before ending at 83-50.
Miller, who with her 20 first half points looked like she may challenge for the school record of 33, finished with 25 points. Miller, who was 8-11 from the field, including 6-9 from beyond the arc, racked up her total in just 23 minutes of play. She also had four assists and four steals in the game. The 25 points was the second highest total in her career, hitting 26 vs. Fontbonne last season.
Taylor Lucas (JR, Sullivan,MO/Sullivan) had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Busscher had eight points and a team-high five steals off the bench and Morgan had nine points and three assists, coming off the bench as wel.
The Gorloks had all 17 available players on the roster play in the contest. The game saw the debut of Claire Buechele (JR, Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) for the Gorloks. Buechele, a transfer from Southwestern Illinois College, missed the first 18 games with an injury.
As a team, Webster finished with 17 steals off 29 Westminster turnovers. The Gorloks shot 43.5% (30-69) in the game and were 10-27 (37%) from the three-point line.
The Gorloks continue to be one of the national leaders in the NCAA III in several categories. Webster is second in forced turnovers per game (32.72) and second in steals (18.0), The Gorloks are also fifth in assists per game (18.8) and 10th in scoring offense (78.3).
Webster is now 6-4 in the SLIAC and 14-5 overall on the season. Westminster falls to 5-5 and 7-11 overall.
The Gorloks travel to Eureka College, who sits alone in first in the SLIAC at 9-0, on February 1. They are back home on February 4 to host Iowa Wesleyan University on Hall of Fame day.
