CLAYTON – Webster University connected on 10 three-point field goals and outscored Fontbonne University 41-21 in the first half enroute to posting a 75-46 victory over the Griffins in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at Mabee Gymnasium on the Fontbonne campus.
With the victory, the Gorloks improve to 13-5 overall and 7-3 in the SLIAC, while Fontbonne falls to 9-11 overall and 5-6 in the SLIAC. In addition, the Gorloks also swept the season series from the Griffins after earning a 79-60 win at home on Dec. 9.
Four Gorloks finished in double figures, including a game-high 13 points each from both senior guard
Kelsey Miller (Elizabeth, Ind./Maryville Univ.) and freshman guard
Kylie Shoot (Ashland, Mo./Southern Boone). Senior forward
Aley Lucas (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) and sophomore guard
Jaysea Morgan (Fisk, Mo./Twin Rivers) each added 10 points in the 'Battle of Big Bend' victory.
Six of WU's 10 three-pointers came during a 30-point second quarter that helped the Gorloks turn an 11-8 game into a 41-21 halftime advantage. In the second period, Miller and sophomore guard jade Sawyer (Republic, Mo./Republic) each hit two treys, while Shoot and Morgan connected on the other two triples in the period.
Sawyer finished the game with nine points as she was 3-for-10 from the 3-point line on the day.
After a first quarter that saw both teams struggle shooting the ball as they combined to go 9-for-30 (30 percent) from the field and also combine to commit 12 turnovers, including seven by the Griffins.
After Fontbonne took an 8-6 lead on a lay-up by Riley Guffey with 4:08 left in the period, the Gorloks would close the period on a 5-0 run, including capping the scoring on a triple by Morgan with 2:08 remaining to take an 11-8 lead.
The Griffins opened the second period on a 5-4 run to pull within 15-13 on a 3-pointer by Kylee Stafford with 7:34 left in the opening half. Following Stafford's trey, the Gorloks would close out the half on a 26-8 run to its lead to 20 points at the half.
WU's second period run was keyed by six points from Morgan and five points by Miller.
In the second period, WU shot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line and forced Fontbonne into 10 turnovers that led to 11 points.
Despite struggling to shoot the ball in the third period, the Gorloks added a point to its lead after outscoring the Griffins, 16-15 in the period to take a 57-36 lead into the final period. In the period, WU was just 5-for-21 from the field and 0-for-3 from long distance, while Fontbonne was 7-for-13 from floor in the period.
Leading by 21 points heading into the final period. The Gorloks opened the final period on an 8-3 run to push out to a 65-39 lead following a bucket from freshman forward
Darieana Hunter (Norman, Okla./Norman) with 5:07 remaining. After back-to-back baskets by the Griffins dropped WU's lead to 65-43, the Gorloks would close the game by scoring 11 of the final 16 points, including taking its largest lead of the game on a lay-up with 44 seconds left by freshman forward
Hayley Taylor (Highland, Ill./Highland). Taylor's lay-up made the score, 75-46.
Fontbonne was paced offensively by 11 points from Katie Sportman, while Guffey added seven points in the loss.
For the game, WU shot 38 percent (27-for-72) from the field and 44 percent (10-for-23) from long distance, while Fontbonne shot 39 percent (20-for-52) from the floor and just 20 percent (3-for-15) from downtown.
The Gorloks held a 44-37 edge on the glass, including a game-high nine rebounds from Miller and forced the Griffins into 28 turnovers that led to 20 points. WU finished with 15 steals, including four from Lucas and three from Sawyer.
In addition to Miller's nine boards, senior forward
Taylor Lucas (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) pulled down eight boards and senior forward
Megan Brandt (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) had five boards for the game.
The Gorloks return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 31 as they host Eureka College in a 6 p.m. SLIAC match-up at Grant Gym. WU suffered a 79-68 loss at Eureka earlier this season.
