Posted: Feb 25, 2014

2014 SLIAC Women's Tournament Preview

The Tournament
For the second consecutive season it will be the same four schools battling it out in the postseason for the right to be called SLIAC Tournament Champions. The field includes Eureka College, Spalding University, Webster University and Westminster College and this year's tournament takes place Friday and Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

While the field is set only two of four seeds are in place. Spalding claimed the top seed and will face #4 seed Westminster College. The other semi-final game will be between Eureka College and Webster University with the only determination to be made will be who will wear home uniforms in their contest.

Broadcast Info
You can watch live video and listen to both semi-final games and the championship game HERE Broadcasts provided by Jorianna Able, Reid Gross, Ryan Ritchey and Kayla Payne.

Tournament Tidbits

The SLIAC Preseason poll got it right this year as all four tournament participants were ranked in the top four of the poll. Westminster was picked first and followed by Eureka and Webster tied for second while Spalding was picked fourth.
Westminster has won two straight SLIAC Tournaments, becoming the first school to repeat since Maryville won four in a row from 2006-09.
Westminster and Webster are the only two teams in the field that have previously won the SLIAC Tournament. Westminster won in 2012 and 2013 while Webster won in 2005 and 2011.
Westminster has played in three consecutive SLIAC Tournament Championship games.
Eureka is making their third tournament appearance and is 1-2 all-time.
Eureka is 3-3 against the tournament field this year.
Spalding is making their second tournament appearance and is 0-1 all-time.
Spalding is 4-2 against the tournament field this year.
Webster is making their 16th tournament appearance and is 7-13 all-time.
Webster is 3-3 against the field this year.
Westminster is making their 14th tournament appearance and is 9-11 all-time.
Westminster is 2-4 against the field this year.

Eureka College Red Devils
Eureka College begins this week with a 16-8 overall record and 12-5 mark in the conference. The face Blackburn College in their regular season finale on Tuesday night. The Red Devils are currently on a two game losing streak, the first time this season they lost back to back games.

Eureka is averaging 68.6 points per game, second best in the SLIAC this season. They also average a league low 14.6 turnovers per game and are led by the duo of Caty Eeten and Kelsey Shoemake. Eeten leds the conference in scoring at 19.2 points per game while Shoemake is averaging 15.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Emily Camden has been the team's top outside threat, averaging 2.1 three's per game while Jenna Brooks is averaging 2.3 steals per game.

Spalding University Golden Eagles
Spalding University earned the right to host the SLIAC Tournament this year after compiling a 14-4 conference record. Although they finished second in the conference, Iowa Wesleyan who was first was not eligible to play in the tournament by virtue of their new membership rules for the conference. Spalding finished the regular season with a 14-10 overall record and rebounded this season after winning just one of their first eight games. The Golden Eagles took control of the conference when they went undefeated in January, winning all eight games, becoming the first SLIAC team to go undefeated in the month of January since Maryville in the 2008-09 season.

Although Spalding ranks just 6th overall in scoring at 66.1 points per game this season, during conference play the Golden Eagles are the top scoring team at 68.8 points per game. They are the top rebounding team in the league, with a +5.3 rebounding margin. Spalding is led by the duo of Kerstin Hayes and Jessica Guy. Hayes is averaging 14.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She is the team's top outside threat, knocking down 36-percent of her three's and currently ranking second with 59 made three's. Guy is averaging 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while shooting 53-percent from the floor.

Webster University Gorloks
Webster begins this week in the same position as Eureka, with one regular season contest remaining. They face Fontbonne University on Tuesday night in their regular season finale. Webster starts the week with a 15-9 overall record and a 12-5 SLIAC record. The Gorloks are averaging 65.8 points per game this season, 7th in the league. They are one of the better teams in the SLIAC at getting to the free-throw line, averaging 24.4 attempts per game which stands as second most in the league.

The Gorloks inside game is led by the duo of Courtney Pursley and Cassie Endicott. Pursley is averaging 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while Endicott is averaging 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Britt Harris-Conway is third on the team in scoring at 10.2 points per game. The Gorloks average just 4.0 three's per game.

Westminster College Blue Jays
Westminster is making their fifth consecutive SLIAC Tournament and have won each of the last two. The Blue Jays finished the regular season 13-11 overall and 11-7 in conference play. The Blue Jays were able to hold onto the final spot into the tournament by winning their last three games and five of their last six games.

Westminster is averaging 66.8 points per game this season, 5th in the conference, and are the second best team from long range. The Blue Jays are shooting 33-percent from three-point range this season and average 6.8 three's made per game. Leigh Ann Lutz is their top scorer, at 14.2 points per game. Lutz has set numerous program records this season, including career scoring and career three's made. She is third in three's this season with 58 made. Mackenzie Haddox is second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game and also averages 4.6 rebounds per game.