It was anyone’s championship after three quarters until it was firmly Webster’s in the fourth.
The Westminster women were the defending champions — defeating Webster 80-73 a year ago — and No. 2 seed going into Saturday’s St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, engaging No. 1 seed undefeated Webster through three quarters each decided by one point until the Blue Jays were outscored 32-22 in the fourth quarter to lose 82-71. The Gorloks earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament while the Blue Jays will have to await their fate when the bracket is announced Monday.
Westminster (18-10, 12-2 SLIAC) recorded its sixth game this season where it had five score in double figures but also the first such game it has lost. Annette Ramirez, who was named to the SLIAC Tournament team a day after being named the conference newcomer and sixth woman of the year, led the Blue Jays with 18 points and three 3-pointers. Reese Arnold, who joined Ramirez on the all-tournament team after being named first-team all-SLIAC this season, followed with 14 points, five rebounds and two 3-pointers. Ramirez averaged 10.3 points in three tournament games while Arnold averaged 21 points, eight rebounds and had a total of eight 3-pointers.
Shelby Kurtz also finished with 14 points but had a career-high six steals to reinforced her inclusion in the all-conference team and all-defensive team. Madison Schaeffer recorded her seventh double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while also adding three steals. Avylina Powell-Qualo finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
For Webster (25-0, 14-0 SLIAC), SLIAC player of the year and tournament MVP Addison Buessink played like it in a season-high 35 minutes, leading the Gorloks with 26 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Julie Baudendistel added 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Naomi Johnson matched her 15 points by knocking down four 3-pointers and pulled down six rebounds. Johnson hit three of her 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as part of an 11-0 Webster run that secured the program’s second tournament title in three seasons and tied the single-season program record for wins
Webster took a 10-4 lead in the first quarter thanks to early offense from Buessink and Westminster turnovers.
The Blue Jays managed to turn the Gorloks over 24 times but still coughed up the ball 23 times, being outscored 26-12 in points off turnovers. Westminster falls to 3-7 on the season in games it has at least 20 turnovers, with Webster being responsible for three of those losses.
Arnold brought the Blue Jays within two points and then gave them the 14-13 lead after a 3-pointer, going into the second quarter down 16-15 after a Johnson 3-pointer.
The teams went back-and-forth in the second quarter until Westminster found a 7-0 run for a 29-23 lead. Hannah Cottrell recorded one of her five steals for Webster before she tied it at 31 at the free-throw line. The Gorloks took the 34-32 lead, and Westminster couldn’t respond before halftime.
As the game wore on, free throws become more crucial and prevalent as Webster finished 20-of-28 at the line while Westminster went 20-of-33. The Blue Jays had their best quarter at the line in the third, going 11-of-12.
The Blue Jays gradually cut in to a 44-36 deficit halfway through the third quarter by taking their free shots. Ramirez hit the free throws for a 46-45 Westminster lead with 1:31 left in the quarter. Baudendistel hit a 3-pointer to help the Gorloks keep a 50-49 lead after three quarters.
Kurtz missed a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter but rushed to the offensive rebound before finding Ramirez open beyond the arc for the successful shot for a 55-52 Westminster lead. Arnold hit a shot for a five-point lead prior to Webster tying it at 58.
From what was the seventh tie of the game, the Gorloks created some separation after two quick buckets and quick Westminster fouls. Buessink hit free throws and then follower her own miss for a 66-58 Gorlok lead with 3:44 left.
Johnson then couldn’t miss as she drained a 3-pointer to extend the margin to double digits before nailing another coming off a Westminster timeout for a 74-60 lead with 1:24 remaining. Schaeffer answered with a layup at the other end, but Johnson converted from long distance as Westminster was out of time in the final seconds.