Webster Groves, MO 2/18/2023- The Westminster College women's basketball team traveled to Webster University on Saturday to take on the Gorloks in the regular season finale. The Blue Jays were down early in the first quarter but would retake the lead and control the rest of the game. They would defeat the Gorloks 79-69. With the win, Westminster ends the regular season with a record of 16-9 and 10-4 in the SLIAC. They will be the #3 seed in the conference tournament next week. The Gorloks suffer their third loss all season and only their second loss in the conference. They end their season with a record of 22-3 and 12-2. They. They. They. They receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament and will host the semi-finals and championship games.
The Gorloks got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 7-2 lead after the Blue Jays committed three fouls in the opening minute. The Blue Jays would tie the game 8-8 after a Natalie Archambault (Eureka, MO/) layup. Maile Peck (Marshfield, MO / Marshfield) got fouled and was sent to the free-throw line. She knocked down both free throws to give the Blue Jays their first lead of the game, 10-8 with 4:37 left in the first quarter. The two teams would trade the lead back and forth for the rest of the quarter. Webster would close out the first quarter on a 5-0 run and led 18-15 heading into the second.
The Blue Jays would regain the lead early in the second quarter after senior Shelby Kurtz (Camdenton, MO/Camdenton) hit a three to put the Jays back up 20-18. Webster would tie 20-20 on their next possession. Westminster would take the game over going on an 11-0 run to take a 31-20 lead with 5 minutes left in the first half. They would grow their lead and headed into halftime up 46-31.
Westminster maintained its lead during the second half and continued to control the game. The Gorloks would cut it to nine in the third quarter, but the Blue Jays would soon go back up double digits. They entered the final quarter leading 66-53.
The fourth quarter was much of the same until the Gorloks made a run in the final two minutes to cut the Westminster lead to six at 73-67. The Blue Jays would make their free throws down the stretch and win the game 79-69.
Annette Ramirez (Sarcoxie, MO / Sarcoxie) led the Blue Jays with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. She went 7-13 from the field,3-5 from behind the arc, and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. Carli Libhart (Rolla, Mo / Rolla) and Caragan Lockard (Eolia, MO / Clopton) both scored 13 points in the game. Lockard would grab 5 rebounds as well. Archambault had 12 points off the bench.
The #3 Blue Jays will host the #6 Eureka College Red Devils in the quarterfinals of the SLIAC tournament. That game will tip-off at 7:00 PM from inside the Historic Gym in Fulton.
