The Webster University women's basketball team rebounded nicely after a tough loss, beating Westminster College, 63-60, on January 20 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks came into the contest tied for third place in the SLIAC with Westminster and repaid the Blue Jays for an early-season OT loss in Fulton, MO.

Westminster took a 6-0 lead in the first period, with Webster getting on the scoreboard at 6:20 on a basket by Taylor Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan).  The Gorloks would tie the game at 10-10 on a basket by Ebony Bailey (SR, Dolton, IL/Seton Academy) to end the period.

Webster took its first lead of the contest early in the second period, 12-10, on a basket by Taylor Lucas.  The Blue Jays hung tight, with the Gorloks leading 18-17 with 4:53 to go in the period, when baskets by Jaysea Morgan (SO, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) and Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) gave them a little breathing room.  Westminster, withstanding the Webster pressure defense better than most of its opponents, went on an 8-0 run in just over a minute, to pull back in front, 25-22 at 2:06 in the second.

Kelsey Miller (SR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) broke the Gorlok drought with a basket and the bonus, tying the game back up at 25-25 with 1:52 remaining.  But the Blue Jays would take a 30-27 lead into the intermission.  Webster was able to force 12 turnovers but committed 10 of its own in the half.  Neither team shot particularly well, with Webster shooting 35.5% for the half as opposed to Westminster's 36.4%, but the Blue Jays hit 2-5 three-pointers while the Gorloks went 0-2.  Webster did have a 23-17 edge in rebounds.

Coming out of the locker room in the third, a three pointer by Megan Brandt quickly tied the game at 30-30.  A basket by Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) put Webster on top and another three by Brandt gave Webster a five-point advantage.  Westminster took a one-point lead just before the end of the period when a pair of free throws put them on top, 46-45.

The Blue Jays opened up a four-point lead early in the fourth, but a three-pointer by Jade Sawyer cut the deficit to one.  A three pointer by Westminster at 5:30 put the Blue Jays on top, 54-52, but a basket by Morgan tied the game at 4:39.  Consecutive baskets by Bailey, Brandt (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan), and Taylor Lucas gave Webster a four-point cushion at 58-54 at 1:49.  Sawyer (SO, Republic, MO/Republic) and Miller hit free throws in the game's final minute to seal the victory.

Webster wound up forcing 30 turnovers in the game, 19 in the second half, and wound up with 15 steals.

Taylor Lucas finished with a double double, including 22 points and 10 rebounds.  She also had four assists, four blocks, and two steals in the win. Morgan came off the bench and had 12 points, five assists, and four steals.  Brandt had eight points, five rebounds, and four steals.  Bailey had a team-high eight assists, and four steals as well.

Webster sits alone in third at 6-3 in the SLIAC, and is 12-5 overall.  Westminster falls to 5-4 and 10-8 overall.  The Blue Jays had scored an average of 110.5 points their last two contests before being held to 60 by the Gorloks.

The Gorloks conclude their four-game home stand with a game vs. Principia College (IL) on January 25.