Women's Basketball Falls In SLIAC Semifinals Against Webster

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Despite a valiant effort by the Fontbonne University women's basketball team, the Griffins season came to an end in the SLIAC Semifinals falling to top-seeded Webster, 80-74.

The Griffins had four players in double-figures led by Ja'mise Bailey with her second straight 21-point game. Madison Nelson ended with 16 points, while Kourtney White had 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Rylee Pickett went 4-of-4 from beyond-the-arc for 12 points.

In the first quarter, the Gorloks grabbed a 10-3 lead at the 5:34 mark on Bethany Lancaster's layup. Webster outscored Fontbonne 10-5 from there leading 20-8 after one.

In the second, the Griffins started to chip away at the deficit with Nelson's three-pointer at 6:40 making it a 28-21 contest.

Later, the Gorloks led 40-31 but White drained her three-pointer with just a second remaining putting Fontbonne down 40-34 at the break.

After shooting 25.0 percent from the floor in the first, the Griffins bounced back shooting 50.0 percent from the field in the second hitting seven three-pointers. Bailey led all scorers with 11 points in the quarter on 3-of-5 shooting.

The Griffins carried that momentum over into the third with Kya Harbour hitting her three-pointer narrowing the deficit down to 44-42 with 7:47 left.

Fontbonne kept hanging with the Gorloks with Nelson sinking another three-pointer at the 3:31 mark pulling the Griffins to within one (52-51).

However, the Gorloks closed out the final three minutes on a 9-2 run with Julie Baudendistel's layup giving them a 61-53 advantage going into the fourth.

Fontbonne shot 53.8 percent from the field in the third and hit five three-pointers giving them 14 for the game.

In the fourth, the Gorloks tried pulling away leading 71-60 with just under five minutes left. The Griffins, though went on a 6-0 run with White's layup making it a 71-66 game.

Webster, though got its lead back out to 10 (76-66) fending off Fontbonne for the six-point victory.

Fontbonne shot 45.5 percent from the floor in the game and finished with 16 three-pointers made. Webster ended the evening shooting 51.5 percent and held a 36-29 advantage on the glass. Webster outscored Fontbonne 54-16 in the paint.

The Griffins finish the season 14-13 overall and 8-6 in conference play.

Make sure to follow the women's basketball team on all its social media accounts: Twitter (@fontbonnewbb), Instagram (@fontbonnewbb) and Facebook (/FontbonneUGriffins).