The Webster University women's basketball team continued to fight for a berth in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post season tournament with a 83-56 win over Iowa Wesleyan University, on February 4 at Grant Gym.  The Gorloks improve to 7-5 in the conference and are in fourth place with the win.  Kelsey Miller paced the Gorloks with 23 points on the afternoon.

Jade Sawyer (FR, Republic, MO/Springfield Republic) started the Webster scoring with a three-pointer, followed by a three by Megan Brandt (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) at 6:52 to give the Gorloks a 6-4 lead.  Miller (JR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) scored nine straight points, on a basket and free throw, then back to back three-pointers to stake Webster to a 15-7 lead.

Natalie Busscher (SO, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) joined the three-point parade to extend the Gorloks' lead to 18-9 at 2:54 in the first.  Chelsea Holman (SR, Decherd, TN/Franklin County) hit a three at the buzzer to give Webster a 25-15 lead to end the first.  Miller wound up with 11 points in the period.

Ebony Bailey (JR, Dolton, IL/Seton Academy) had slick assists on back to back baskets by Brandt and Jaysea Morgan (FR, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) to give Webster a 34-25 lead with 3:47 remaining in the second period.  Sawyer hit a long three-pointer to extend the Gorlok advantage to 15, 41-26, and Busscher hit a three at the buzzer to send Webster into the locker room up, 45-27.  The Gorloks forced 12 turnovers in the period, with Wesleyan having 20 turnovers for the half.  Webster was 8-12 from the three-point line for the half.

Brandt got Webster going in the third period with a three-pointer at 8:36.  The Gorloks maintained a double digit lead throughout and ended the period up, 60-41.  Miller added five more points to up her total to 18 and Aley Lucas (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had six rebounds to boost her game total to 10.

Webster started the fourth period with an 14-0 run, punctuated by three-pointers by Sawyer and Miller to make it 74-41,  putting the game well out of reach for Wesleyan.  The Gorloks coasted to the 83-56 final.

Webster wound up with 20 steals on the afternoon and 36 turnovers forced.  The Gorloks shot 37.3% (25-67) from the field, but continued their stellar free throw shooting, hitting 20-24 (83.3%) in the game.

Miller had a team-high 23 points, four steals, three assists, and three rebounds in the game.  Sawyer had 15 points and four steals, and Brandt had 12 points  for the game.  Busscher also finished in double figures with 11 points off the bench.  Aley Lucas had a team-high 10 rebounds.

Webster is 7-5 in the SLIAC and now tied with Iowa Wesleyan for fourth.  Wesleyan is not eligible for post season play yet in the SLAC, leaving Webster alone currently for the fourth tournament spot.  The Gorloks are 15-6 overall on the season. 

The Gorloks travel to Louisville, KY, on February 8 to play Spalding University.