Aleyna Sherman
64
Eureka EUREKA 16-11,11-7 SLIAC
75
Winner Webster WEBSTR 24-2,17-1 SLIAC
Eureka EUREKA
16-11,11-7 SLIAC
64
Final
75
Webster WEBSTR
24-2,17-1 SLIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Eureka EUREKA 21 7 14 22 64
Webster WEBSTR 15 17 22 21 75

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Kyle Jones

Sherman’s First Career Double-Double Helps Advance Gorloks To SLIAC Championship Game

FULTON, Mo. - The Webster University women's basketball team opened postseason play in the 2024-25 SLIAC Tournament with the semifinals decision against Eureka College Thursday evening. WU's Aleyna Sherman recorded her first career double-double with new career highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds while shooting nine-of-10 from the free-throw line. With the victory, Webster improves to 24-2 overall and advances to the SLIAC Championship game for the sixth consecutive season. 

In the opening minutes of play, Webster and Eureka exchanged baskets that generated a 6-5 Gorlok advantage. In that stretch, Nysa Gilchrist and Bethany Lancaster added layups when Sherman got her career-night started with a jumper. Moments later, the Red Devils responded with a 7-0 run that generated the 12-6 deficit. Midway through the opening quarter, the Gorloks countered with a 7-2 run that regained the lead at 14-13. In the run, Sherman added a pair of layups while Rylee Denbow knocked down a three-point basket. However, Eureka closed out the quarter with a 7-2 run of their own that generated the 21-15 deficit. 

WU's Emily Wilson opened the second quarter scoring for the Gorloks with five straight points that cut the deficit to three at 23-20. With under four minutes to go in the first half, the Gorloks constructed a 7-0 run that started on four free-throws by Meghan Illingworth. WU's Denbow capped off the run with her second three-point basket of the game that took the 27-25 advantage. Less than a minute later, Eureka took the 28-27 advantage on three free-throws by Alyssa Zarello. The Gorloks closed out the first half with a 5-0 run on a layup by Bethany, a pair of free-throws by Illingworth, and a free-throw by Kaimyla Nolen that took the 32-28 halftime lead. As a team, the Gorloks allowed only seven points in the quarter as four of those seven came from the free-throw line.

Webster opened the third quarter with an 11-1 run that started on back-to-back jumpers by Sherman and Wilson. Shortly later, Sherman and Emily Kerce increased the lead to double-digits at 42-29 with back-to-back three-point baskets. Following a layup by Denbow, Wilson capped off the run with a basket in the paint that pushed the lead to 46-29. With less than two minutes to go in the quarter, the Red Devils connected on a 6-0 run that cut the lead down to 52-42. WU's Wilson capped off the quarter scoring with a mid-range jumper that took the 54-42 advantage. 

Webster and Eureka opened the final quarter exchanging baskets that pushed the Gorloks' lead to 63-47. Midway through the quarter, the Red Devils answered with a 13-3 run that cut the lead down to six at 66-60. The three Webster points scored in the run came from Sherman at the free-throw line. Moments later, Sherman stretched the lead back to double-digits at 70-60 with four consecutive free-throws. In the final minute of regulation, the Gorloks shot a perfect five-of-five from the free-throw line that helped seal the victory.   
  
In addition to Sherman, Wilson recorded 20 points and finished second on the team with seven rebounds. WU's Lancaster rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.

The Gorloks will travel back to Westminster College on Saturday, March 1 to face off against the Panthers of Principia College for the SLIAC Championship game starting at 1:00PM in Fulton, Missouri. 
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