The Journal

Issue date: 2/23/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Mariano Ulibarri Webster's Kasey Shultz (right) and Toni Picerno swarm Greenvilles Meredith Banal.

This season the Webster women's basketball team was nearly unbeatable at home. The team lost only one game in Grant Gymnasium this season and that was to conference powerhouse Maryville University (20-4, 13-0 conf.). Webster's final two regular season games, unfortunately for opponents Fontbonne and Greenville, would also be at home. The Gorloks would stay true to home court form in both games.

On Feb. 18 Webster hosted the Fontbonne Griffins (11-12, 9-4), a team that, like Webster, was assured of a postseason Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament berth, but still had something to prove.

The first half was a sloppy one for both teams with as the Gorloks shot only 27 percent from the floor. The Griffins fared little better with 28 percent.

Fontbonne held a slim 24-20 at the half in a game that was becoming anything but a shoot-out.

A different Gorlok team hit the court at half, bringing a renewed dedication to defense with them. Webster challenged Fontbonne's ball handlers and created scoring chances off of ten second-half Griffin turnovers. Webster head coach Amber Daulbaugh credited the second- half turnaround to the team changing its defensive mentality.

"Our defense spurs our offense. We started rebounding and played a better game in the second-half," Daulbaugh said.

Webster went on to beat Fontbonne 51-46, but have not seen the last of the Griffins.

The Griffins had lost to Webster 67-57 in the teams' previous meeting this season.

Still, both teams are ranked second and third place in the conference respectively and, regardless of last Saturdays outcome, were guaranteed to play for a third time in one of the tournaments first round games Feb. 24.

"I'm sure (Fontbonne) will be fired up and not trying to lose three games to us," Daulbaugh said.

But first up for the Gorloks was the final home game of the season against Greenville University on Feb. 21.

The night would prove to be both an emotional and victorious one for the Gorloks. Webster was rarely tested all game and won 73-47 but this would be the last home game for Webster's four seniors (see story page 9).

A fact that Daulbaugh recognized and respected.

"We had the ability to get the seniors back in," said Daulbaugh in a post game interview. "It feels really good because every one did something to help make this a special night."

Staff writer Grant Bissell contributed information for this story.

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