The 'Battle of Big Bend' was back on and it was the Gorloks who slew the Griffins as the Webster University women's basketball team downed Fontbonne University, 83-58, on February 18 at Grant Gym.  Webster clinched third place and the third seed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament with the win.

Webster took a 17-8 lead after one period.  The Gorloks forced 11 turnovers and had seven steals, leading to an 11-2 edge in points off turnovers.  A three-pointer by Kelsey Miller (JR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) just over a minute into the second period staked Webster to a 15-point lead at 27-12.  The Griffins managed to shave part of the advantage, whittling it down to 31-20, but the Gorloks went on a 5-0 run to give them their largest lead at 16 at 2:30.

A jumper by Jaysea Morgan (FR, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) extended the lead to 40-22 at 1:01 and Webster entered the locker room up, 44-28.  Webster wound up forcing 20 turnovers in the half and finished with a 19-8 advantage in points off those turnovers.  The Gorloks shot 51.5% (17-33) for the half and were a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line.

Webster built a 22-point lead to end the third period, 64-42.  The Gorloks had an 11-4 edge in rebounds, five of them on the offensive side, as they had a 5-0 advantage in second chance points.  For the first three periods, Webster overall had a 12-0 margin in second chance points.  Things didn't get any better for Fontbonne in the fourth as Webster started off on a 5-0 run to make it 69-42.  The Gorloks, with the aid of all five seniors on the floor at one time, maintained its big lead, finishing the game up, 83-58.

Aley Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had a double double on the afternoon, finishing with 15 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.  She was 6-9 from the field.  Taylor Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had a team-high 16 points, and added four assists and three rebounds.  Jade Sawyer (FR, Republic, MO/Springfield Republic) had 11 points, four rebounds, and tied for a team-high five assists with Morgan.

As a team, Webster wound up shooting 50% (31-62), racking up 21 assists, and were a stellar 16-17 from the free throw line.  The Gorloks forced 29 turnovers in the game and had 17 steals.  Webster finished with a 36-22 edge in rebounds as well.

A raucous senior day crowd was in attendance as the five seniors played their final game at Grant Gym.  Paige Beuchele (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon), Olivia Chiapetto (Rochester, IL/Rochester), Chelsea Holman (Decherd, TN/Franklin County), Alexis Smith (Winchester, TN/Huntland), and Kaitlin Snyder (Maroa, IL/Maroa-Forsyth) were recognized in a pre-game ceremony.  Also recognized were senior Competitive Cheerleaders, Rebecca Miller, Victoria McBain, and Ashley Schmied.

The Gorloks clinched third place and will face second place Greenville College (IL) in the first round of the SLIAC Tournament on February 23, at host Eureka College in Eureka, IL.  Webster finished at 11-5 in the SLIAC are 19-6 overall on the season.  Fontbonne finished 9-7 in the SLIAC and are 13-12 overall.  The Gorloks had lost earlier to the Griffns this season on January 18, 56-52, in an exciting contest.

With a win in the first round of the SLIAC Tournament, Webster would break the 20-win barrier for just the third time in team history.