The Webster University women's basketball team lost to the reigning SLIAC champs, falling at Eureka College, 79-68, at Eureka, IL, on December 16.  The Gorloks and Red Devils duked it out in the first half but Eureka pulled away in the second half for the win.

Gorloks shot cold early, hitting 5-17 (29%) in the first period, as the Red Devils shot 6-15 (40%).  But Webster's free throw shooting saved them as they went 11-11 from the line and ended the period tied at 20-20.  Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) and Kylie Shoot (FR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone) each had seven points in the second period as the Gorloks and Red Devils traded baskets throughout with Eureka leading, 36-35, at the half.

Shoot provided a big boost to Webster coming off the bench with 10 points for the half.  Aley Lucas, the team's leading scorer on the season at 14.6 per game, led the Gorloks in the first half with 11 points.  Eureka was able to match the Webster pressure defense in the half, committing 12 turnovers but forcing 10 Webster miscues.  Each team had a hot hand at the free throw line as Webster went 12-12 and Eureka hit 9-10 from the charity stripe.

The Red Devils came out on a 10-2 run in the third period, including a pair of three-pointers, to open up a 46-37 lead.  Shoot broke the run with a three-pointer as Webster cut the deficit to 46-40.  Eureka had an 11-4 run to extend its lead to 13 at 57-44 with 2:51 left in the period.  The Red Devils would go on to take a 64-48 lead to end the period.  It was a sloppy session as both teams had 21 turnovers combined, with Webster committing 12 to Eureka's nine.

In the fourth period, a pair of free throws and a basket by Shoot cut the deficit to 69-58, and a Natalie Busscher (SR, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) three-pointer at 3:23 cut it to nine at 75-66.  The Gorloks would get no closer as they fell, 79-68.

Webster wound up shooting 22-65 (33.8%) to Eureka's 25-58 (43.1%) on the afternoon, but the Red Devils hit 11 of 24 (45.8%) three-point attempts.  Each team committed 26 turnovers.

Shoot had a team-high 18 points and Aley Lucas finished with 15.  Megan Brandt (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had a team-high eight rebounds and chipped in eight points.

Webster 1-2 in the SLIAC and 5-3 overall.  Eureka was the SLIAC champions in 2016-17 and leads the series between the two teams, 13-12, winning the last four meetings.  Eureka is 3-1 and 6-4 overall.

The Gorloks now have some time off before they take a holiday trip to California to play three games on December 28-31, ringing in the New Year on the left coast.