Gorloks Top Fontbonne In SLIAC Game of the Week

The Webster University women's basketball team took a first-period lead and never looked back as it defeated Fontbonne University, 79-60, on December 9 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks had little trouble handing the Griffins their first loss in the SLIAC while gaining their first win in conference play.

Webster trailed 6-5 at 6:24 in the first period when its suffocating defense and fast transition game turned it into a 17-6 lead over the next 3:30 minutes.  The Gorloks led, 23-16, at the end of the period with 18 of their points coming off Griffin turnovers.  Webster had a 13-0 run to start the second period that included a three-pointer by Kelsey Miller (SR, Elizabeth, IN/South Central) and back to back 3s by Jade Sawyer (SO, Republic, MO/Republic), giving the Gorloks a 36-16 lead.  Webster would take a 41-28 halftime lead.

When Fontbonne had a layup five seconds into the third period to cut the lead to 11, the Gorloks responded with a three-pointer by Aley Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan).  They would continue to hold the Griffins at bay, taking a 66-48 lead into the fourth and leading by as many as 26 before settling for the 79-60 victory.

Webster forced 23 Fontbonne turnovers while only committing 13.  The Gorloks shot 26-58 (44.8%) but hit 10-21 (47.6%) of their three-pointers on the afternoon.  Webster was also good from the free throw line, hitting 17-20 (85%) and are shooting 81.7% on the season from the charity stripe.  Webster's 79 points for the game matches its season average.

Aley Lucas led the Gorloks with 20 points, on 8-13 shooting, and nine rebounds.  She is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game for the Gorloks.  Miller finished with 14 points and was 4-7 from beyond the arc.  Sawyer and Taylor Lucas (SR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) each had 11 points in the game.

Webster is 1-1 in the SLIAC and 4-2 overall.  Webster has won 9 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools.  Fontbonne falls to 2-1 and 5-4 overall. 

Webster has a non-conference date coming up as it hosts Monmouth College (IL) on December 14 at Grant Gymnasium.

STORY COURTESY OF WEBSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION