The Webster University women's basketball fell at Augustana College, 70-64, on November 25 at Rock Island, IL.  The Gorloks led through three periods, but a rough fourth cost them their first loss of the season.

The Gorloks came out of the gate with a 5-0 lead in the first, forcing four Viking turnovers in the first 2 1/2 minutes of play.  A Jaysea Morgan (SO, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) lay up gave Webster a 13-6 lead as the Gorloks forced another four turnovers.  Augustana would go on a 6-0 run that would tie the game at 17-17.  A pair of Kylie Shoot (FR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone) free throws put Webster on top but Augustana would tie it to end the period at 19-19.  Augustana had 10 turnovers in the period, but had a 14-5 advantage in rebounds over Webster.

In the second period, a three-pointer by Jade Sawyer (SO, Republic, MO/Republic) gave Webster a 26-21 lead as the Gorloks forced three more turnovers in the first minute of the period.  The Vikings hit a three-pointer just before the period ended to cut Webster's lead to 32-31 at the half.  The Gorloks forced seven total turnovers in the period for 17 in the half, but the Vikings continued to control the boards as they held a 27-14 advantage.  Megan Brandt (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had eight points and four rebounds for the half, and Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) and Kelsey Miller (SR, Elizabeth, IN/ South Central) each had six points.

A Sawyer three-pointer a 6:21 in the third period gave Webster a 44-28 lead.  Augustana would tie it at 44-44, but a pair of Brandt free throws and a Natalie Busscher (JR, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) lay up put Webster on top 48-44.  The Gorloks pushed the Augustana turnover total to 24, helping to offset the Vikings 38-22 edge in rebounds.  Both teams were shooting at a 37.8% clip from the field.

Things came unraveled in the fourth period.  With Webster leading 50-48, Augustana went on a 13-0 run to take a 61-50 lead with 4:42 remaining.  The Gorloks broke the streak with a pair of free throws by Lucas at 3:53, and another pair by Ebony Bailey (SR, Dolton, IL/Seton Academy) at 3:27 cut the deficit to seven at 61-54.  But the closest the Gorloks would get to the Vikings for the duration was five, as Augustana won 70-64.

Augustana wound up shooting 45.6% (26-57) as opposed to Webster's 34.9% (22-63), and a 50-29 edge in rebounds.  The Gorloks wound up forcing 29 total Viking turnovers but couldn't overcome Augustana's shooting and rebounding ability.

Sawyer finished with a team-high 15 points and five assists.  Brandt had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, and Lucas finished with 10 points.  Miller had eight points and seven rebounds.

Webster, coming off winning the Webster Tip-Off, falls to 2-1.  Augustana, a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, is now 4-0. 

The Gorloks travel to Fulton, MO, to face Westminster College on November 29 for their 2017-18 SLIAC opener.  Webster will be back home on December 5 to face Finlandia University at Grant.