Gorloks, Back to Back Champions
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#3 Westminster (18-10,10-4 SLIAC) | 19 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 84 |
|
#1 Webster (24-3,12-2 SLIAC) | 14 | 28 | 21 | 24 | 87 |
Webster University becomes just the sixth program in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball history to repeat as tournament champion after defeating Westminster College 87-84 on Saturday for the 2023 title.
The championship game was a close one that featured runs by both teams. The first three quarters included eight ties and 12 lead changes with Webster bringing a 63-60 lead into the final quarter. The Gorloks built up their largest lead, a nine-point lead with 4:49 left in the game. However, Webster could not shake the Blue Jays as they worked their way back into the game. Caragan Lockard started a run for the Blue Jays that saw Shelby Kurtz connect on a triple to bring the score to 76-73 with 3:10 on the clock.
Westminster closed the score to 83-82 after a layup by Kurtz with 31 seconds left. But as they had done all quarter long the Gorloks answered back, this time with a Julie Baudendistel layup. From there it was a matter of free throws with the Gorloks hitting two for an 87-82 lead. The Blue Jays answered back with free throws of their own and Webster missed their next two, giving the Blue Jays one last chance.
Westminster had already won a game in the tournament on a buzzer-beater but their last-second half-court heave today fell short. Webster shot 62 percent from the floor as Baudendistel led the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Westminster was led by Annette Ramirez with 25 points.
Webster improves to 24-3 overall this season and this is the program's 6th tournament title, tying the conference record with Blackburn College. Webster awaits the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball selection show on Monday to see where and against whom their season continues.
Bethany Lancaster was named the Tournament MVP and joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Julie Baudendistel and Kate Rolfes as well as Westminster's Shelby Kurtz and Annette Ramirez, Eureka's Abby Stotler, Fontbonne's Ja'mise Bailey, Greenville's Madelyn Stephen, and Principia's Alana Hinson.
- #SLIACtion -
