meghan illingworth
80
Knox KC 5-6,1-2 Midwest Conference
83
Winner Webster WEBSTR 9-1,3-0 SLIAC
Knox KC
5-6,1-2 Midwest Conference
80
Final
83
Webster WEBSTR
9-1,3-0 SLIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Knox KC 13 21 27 19 80
Webster WEBSTR 18 25 19 21 83

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Kyle Jones

Gorloks Rally Late To Eliminate Knox; Illingworth Achieves New Career High 20 Points

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University women's basketball team closed out the non-conference portion of the 2024-25 schedule by hosting Knox College Monday afternoon in Grant Gymnasium. The Gorloks outlasted the back-and-forth battle and defeated the Prairie Fire of Knox College by the final score of 83-80. WU's Meghan Illingworth led the offensive attack with a career-high of 20 points while securing six rebounds.  

In the opening minutes of action, Webster got off to a slow start as Knox generated an 11-2 advantage as Nysa Gilchrist added the basket for the Gorloks. Midway through the quarter, the Gorloks countered with a 16-2 run that ultimately closed out the quarter. In the run, Illingworth contributed six points while Bethany Lancaster added two baskets in the paint. In addition, Jena Stannard knocked down a deep three-point basket as Gilchrist contributed a lay-in as Emily Kerce added a point at the free-throw line. The Gorloks took the 18-15 advantage headed into the second quarter. 

Webster and Knox opened the second quarter exchanging baskets that included another basket by Lancaster.Moments later, the Prairie Fire responded with an 8-0 run that generated a three-point deficit at 23-20. Immediately following the Knox run, Webster answered with a 7-0 run that included five points by Lancaster and a basket by Gilchrist that took the 27-23 advantage. 

Midway through the quarter, the Gorloks responded with a 9-0 run started on a mid-range jumper by Claire Williams as Wilson followed with a fastbreak layup. Webster generated a double-digit lead of 36-25 that included back-to-back baskets by Stannard and Lancaster. The Gorloks and Prairie Fire closed out the first half exchanging baskets that led to a 43-34 advantage at the break.

Knox opened the second half with an 8-0 run that was eventually snapped on a layup by Kaimyla Nolen that made the score 45-42. For the next three minutes of play, the Gorloks and Prairie Fire traded baskets that featured four points by Illingworth and another basket by Nolen as the margin stayed at three at 56-53. With a one-point deficit at 57-56, WU's Jayla Dixon displayed fantastic footwork and cashed in on a highly-contested layup that regained the lead at 58-57. The Gorloks closed out the quarter at the free-throw line as Williams and Wilson both knocked down a pair of free-throws that generated a 62-61 lead heading into the final quarter. 

The Prairie Fire opened the final quarter with a 8-0 run that was eventually snapped on a layup by Lancaster that generated the deficit of 69-64. Midway through the quarter, the Gorloks cut the deficit down to two at 73-71 with a 6-0 run on baskets by Lancaster, Aleyna Sherman, and Illingworth.

With less than two minutes remaining on the clock and down four, the Gorloks answered with a 10-0 run that included seven clutch points by Grace Hupp that featured two three-point baskets. Stannard closed out the game at the free-throw line by knocking down all four attempts.   

For the game, Illingworth achieved a career-high 20 points while securing six rebounds. In addition, Lancaster recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Stannard added a season-high 10 points while Hupp contributed a season-high seven points. 

As a team, the Gorloks outscored the Prairie Fire 42-9 in bench points and secured a rebound margin of 46-34. Defensively, Webster generated 16 steals led by Williams with five as Gilchrist swiped three. 

The Gorloks will revert back to SLIAC play in the new year with an in-state visit to Westminster College on Saturday, January 4 starting at 1:00PM in Fulton, Missouri.
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