wbb champs
Brian Lovellette
64
Principia Princ 18-9,14-2 SLIAC
70
Winner Webster WEBSTR 19-8,14-2 SLIAC
Principia Princ
18-9,14-2 SLIAC
64
Final
70
Webster WEBSTR
19-8,14-2 SLIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Principia Princ 14 20 10 20 64
Webster WEBSTR 13 16 20 21 70

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Kyle Jones

Women’s Basketball Defeats Principia 70-64 In SLIAC Championship Game; Gorloks Secure Ticket To The 2026 NCAA Tournament!

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University women's basketball team hosted Principia College for the 2026 SLIAC Championship game on Saturday evening in Grant Gym. The Gorloks overcame a five-point halftime deficit by outsourcing the Panthers 41-30 in the second half that secured the SLIAC Tournament title. With the victory, it marks a conference record eight SLIAC Championships, fourth in the past five seasons, and secured their ticket to the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.  

In the opening minutes of the game, Webster got in an early 5-10 deficit which included a layup by Miya Webb and three points by Meghan Illingworth (ft and basket in paint).  With approximately four minutes to go, Webb and Illingworth cut the deficit to 9-10 with consecutive baskets in the paint. Moments later, the Panthers connected on back-to-back baskets that made the score 9-14. However, the Gorloks closed out the quarter scoring with consecutive baskets by Akaela Caquelin and Illingworth that generated the 13-14 deficit. 

WU's Kaimyla Nolen opened the second quarter scoring with a layup which gave the Gorloks their first lead of the game at 15-14. Moments later, Principia added a 9-2 run that pushed the score to 17-23 as Caquelin added a basket. 

Midway through the quarter, the Panthers constructed an 11-2 run that generated the 21-34 deficit. The Gorloks closed out the final two minutes of the quarter with an 8-0 run that included four points by Webb and a basket each from Emma Smith and Nolen that generated the 29-34 halftime deficit. 

Webster opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run to the 35-34 lead that started on a free-throw by Nolen when Illingworth capped off the run with five consecutive points. Less than 30 seconds later, Principia regained the lead with a layup and later added two free-throws that made the score 35-38. 

Approximately midway through the quarter, the Gorloks constructed a 12-2 run that started on an add-one play by Nolen that tied the game at 38 apiece. Moments later, Caquelin cashed back-to-back three-pointers that stretched the lead to 44-38. Following a layup by Principia, Webb added a free-throw when Caquelin capped off the run with a fast-break layup. The Panthers closed out the final minute and a half of the quarter by adding four points that pushed the score to 49-44 as Daijah Jones made the basket for Webster.    

Webster opened the final quarter with a 10-5 run to the 60-49 lead that started on three free-throws by Illingworth. Moments later, Claire WIlliams and Caquelin sank consecutive three-pointers when Illingworth capped off the run with a jumper in the paint.

Midway through the quarter, the Panthers chipped back with a 9-0 run that cut the lead down to two at  60-58. With just over two minutes remaining, the Gorloks added a 5-0 run on three points by D. Jones and a layup by Webb that pushed the lead to 65-58. The Gorloks closed out the final 30 seconds shooting five-of-six from the free-throw line which included two each from Williams and D. Jones while Nolen made one that secured the victory. 

For the game, Illingworth led the team with her third double-double of the season of 19 points and 10 rebounds while swatting two shots. Caquelin recorded 17 points, five rebounds, and a team-high three steals. Webb contributed 11 points, a team-high seven assists, and collected seven rebounds. Nolen added nine points while D. Jones led the team with five steals.

As a team, Webster outscored Principia 26-6 in bench points and 20-6 on points off turnovers. 

The Gorloks will find out their opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 2 at the selection show starting at 2:30PM eastern time on DIII Women's College Basketball - Home | NCAA.com. 
 
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