Webster and Westminster To Face Off In Underdog Championship

Webster University and Westminster College will face off in the 2018 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, becoming the first underdog championship game in the tournament's 22-year history. Webster, the #3 seed, defeated Eureka, the #2 seed, 56-52 in the night's first semifinal game while #4 Westminster defeated top seed and host #1 Greenville 73-67. 

Inside the Game (#2 Eureka vs. #3 Webster) - BOX SCORE
Webster used their pressure to get an early lead on Eureka, scoring the games first five points and jumping out to an eight-point lead midway through the first quarter. Despite forcing Eureka into 10 turnovers in the first-half the two teams remained tied at 26-26 going into halftime. Eureka settled down in the second-half, committing just four turnovers, and hanging within striking distance. The two teams exchanged the lead six times and were tied nine times throughout the contest. After settling down with the ball Eureka hit the boards, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds including one from Ashley Harfst, who followed with a putback and gave the Red Devils a 52-51 lead with 3:15 remaining. But that would be the last Red Devil basket of the game. On the Gorloks next possession Ebony Bailey knocked down a pair of free-throws to put Webster back on top for good. The Gorloks added to their lead with a high-low play with Taylor Lucas hitting Kelsey Miller on a back door cut to put the Gorloks up 55-52. A free-throw by Megan Brandt made it a two-possession game with the game ending in the same fashion as early on, with a Eureka turnover.

• This marks Webster's first SLIAC Tournament Championship appearance since 2014.
• Following the game, Eureka's Hayley Reneau was honored as the 2018 SLIAC Player of the Year.

Inside the Game (#1 Greenville vs. #4 Westminster) - BOX SCORE
The scoring started off slow with the two teams playing it close in the first-half before Westminster used a three from Kendal Miller to take a four-point lead into the break, tied for their largest lead of the half, at 31-27. The scoring picked up in the third quarter with Greenville outscoring the Blue Jays 24-21 but still trailing Westminster 52-51 as the teams entered the fourth quarter. Kelsey Ray sparked the Blue Jays with a three to tie the score at 62. Moments later Ray stopped a Panther 2-on-1 break by tracking the ball handler down and stepping the lane as the pass was made. Ray then led the break the other way where the Blue Jays found Mirrakohl Johnson for a lay-up. A Kendahl Adams gave Westminster a 67-64 lead with 2:22 remaining and the Blue Jays would hold the lead the rest of the way. 

• Westminster is just the second #4 seed to advance to the SLIAC Championship game. Principia is the only other school to do so, in the 1995 tournament when it was a seven-team field.
• Morgan St. James came off the bench to finish with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots.

- #SLIACtion -