The Webster University women's basketball team picked up a road victory with a 77-59 win over Spalding University, on January 6 in Louisville, KY. The Gorloks took a first period lead and never looked back as they improved to 3-2 in the SLIAC and 9-4 overall. Kelsey Miller paced the Gorloks with 20 points on 8-10 shooting from the field.
Webster built a 16-10 lead well into the first period as hot shooting and its patented pressure defense helped take control. Webster had forced 10 Spalding turnovers as it had a 10-2 edge in points off those miscues. The Gorloks hit seven of their first 12 shots (58%) including 2-2 from the three-point line by Miller (SR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central). Webster ended the period up, 17-14.
The Gorloks opened things up in the second. Up 18-16, Webster got a pair of layups by Ebony Bailey (SR, Dolton, IL/Seton Academy) and Miller for a 22-16 lead. The Webster lead kept creeping as the Gorloks pulled ahead 36-22, then closed on a 9-2 run for a 45-24 advantage heading into the locker room. Miller had 14 points in the half.
In the third period, Webster still led, 56-44, with 2:20 to go, and had forced 20 Golden Eagle turnovers but had committed 17 of its own. Fortunately, the Gorloks kept up their shooting pace as they were at 59% (23-38) for the game. Webster also had an eye-popping 38-14 edge in the paint. But by the period's end, Webster's 21-point lead had shrunk to eight, 57-49.
Layups by Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) and Miller gave Webster a 61-47 cushion to open the fourth period. Miller was burning it up as she was 7-8 from the field for the game. The Golden Eagles hung around and were within 10, 65-55, with 5:30 left in the game. But Webster would put the game on ice with a 5-0 run with 4:00 remaining. From there the Gorloks coasted to the 77-59 final.
Miller finished with 20 points on 8-10 shooting. Aley Lucas and Taylor Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) each had 14 points, and Megan Brandt (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) had six points and a team-high eight rebounds. Jaysea Morgan (SO, Fisk, MO/Twin Rivers) had five points and a team-high five assists.
Webster is 3-2 in the SLIAC and 9-4 overall. Spalding falls to 2-4 and 4-10.
Webster will travel to Jacksonville, IL, on January 10 to play MacMurray College and will be back home on January 13 when it hosts Blackburn College at Grant Gym.
