The Webster University women's basketball team starts the season 2-0 with its second win at the Webster Tip-Off, with a 75-66 win over Ripon College (WI), on November 12 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks' Jaysea Morgan was named the MVP of the tournament after a complete performance in their win over the Red Hawks.

Webster fell behind early, 7-4, but a Jade Sawyer (SO, Republic, MO/Republic) knotted the game at 7-7.  A Natalie Bussher (JR, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) lay up off a block by Taylor Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) at the other end gave Webster an 11-8 lead.  A driving lay up by Kylie Shoot (FR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone) put the Gorloks up, 15-13, but Ripon hit a pair of free throws to end the first period tied at 15-15.  The Red Hawks had a much more difficult time with the Gorloks' frenetic pace of play after walloping Marian University the previous evening.  Ripon had nine turnovers and shot just 3-13 from the field for the first period. 

Shoot sunk a three-pointer to give Webster a 20-17 lead just over a minute into the second period.  The Gorloks ended the period with four straight free throws, two by Kelsey Miller (SR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central), and two by Jaysea Morgan (SO, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers), to give them a 33-29 halftime lead.  Morgan had team-highs with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists, all coming off the bench for the half.  Webster forced 19 Ripon turnovers in the half as it picked up nine steals.  The Gorloks pressure defense offset a Red Hawk 24-12 edge in rebounds.

Miller hit a three to open the third period for the Gorloks, extending the lead to 36-29, prompting an immediate timeout by the Red Hawks, just over a minute into the period.  Coming out of the timeout, a Gorlok steal and lay up by Brandt (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan), followed by a steal by Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) and a jumper by Morgan, opened up a 40-29 lead.  Ripon went on an 12-3 run to pull within two at 43-41.  A steal by Morgan and a lay up by Brandt at the buzzer, gave Webster a 53-47 lead to end the third.  Webster forced eight more turnovers and had five steals in the period.

Webster kept Ripon at bay throughout most of the fourth period, leading by as many as nine. But Ripon closed within one after a lay up with 2:22 remaining, to 63-62 after a 7-0 run.  After a Webster timeout, the Gorloks responded with a lay up by Brandt with just two seconds on the shot clock.  After a Red Hawk miss, Brandt was fouled on a lay up attempt and hit one free throw to give Webster a 66-62 lead at 1:30.  A pair of Red Hawk free throws cut it to two at 66-64 with 1:10. A Sawyer long distance three-pointer with the shot clock about to expire gave Webster a 69-64 lead at 0:39.  Miller sealed the outcome with a pair of free throws at 0:37 to make it a 71-64 lead.

Webster wound up with 16 steals and forced 31 turnovers, helping them over come a Ripon 42-25 edge in rebounds in the contest.  Morgan, the MVP, had 15 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in the contest.  Miller had 15 points and four steals, and Sawyer had 10 points. 

Ripon Red Hawks are now 1-1 after its victory over Marian University (WI) in its first round game, 89-35.  Webster, 2-0, handily defeated Lindenwood University-Belleville, 87-57, in their first game of the Tip Off.

The All-Tournament Team included:
Jaysea Morgan MVP: Webster University
Kelsey Miller: Webster University
Emma McDonald: Ripon College
Eleanore Mueller: Ripon College
Brandi Bender: Marian University
Riley Guffey: Fontbonne University

The Gorloks travel to Rock Island, IL, to play Augustana College on November 25, then open play in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on November 29 at Westminster College in Fulton, MO.