The Monmouth College women's basketball team dropped their final home game of 2023 to undefeated Webster University 98-61 on Friday afternoon.
Webster scored the first four points of the game and their full-court pressure forced a couple early turnovers. Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) scored in the lane and after the Gorlocks pushed the lead to five, Olvia Dinges (Amboy, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Webster extended the lead to 14-7 before Jadyn Mitchell (Flanagan, Illinois) hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:00 left in the period. Goodrich scored at the buzzer to cut the Webster lead to 19-12 after one.
Mitchell split free throws for Monmouth's first point of the second quarter. Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) made a layup and Webster answered with four straight for a 25-15 lead. Webster scored three buckets in a row as Monmouth made a pair of free throws, one for Madison Heisch (Illinois City, Illinois) and one by Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois). The Gorlocks led 35-17 when Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) split free throws with 5:00 left in the half. Mitchell and Dinges connected on free throws as Webster extended the lead to 44-23 at halftime.
Mitchell scored the first points of the second half for the Fighting Scots with a 3-pointer. Mitchell connected on a layup a minute later and Webster answered with a 5-0 run for a 53-28 lead. Danielle Beach (Geneseo, Illinois) scored six points in a row for the Scots but Webster pushed the lead to 29. Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) hit a pair of free throws and Heisch buried a 3-pointer to trim the lead 65-39. Dinges made two free throws and Rangel hit a jumper to end the quarter as Webster led 68-45.
Rangel scored to start the fourth quarter and Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) converted a layup. Webster led 75-49 when Hoy hit a 3-pointer with just over six minutes left to play. Webster scored the next 12 points to lead 87-52. Goodrich ended the Gorlocks run with a bucket and Jones made a layup with 2:30 to play. Jones completed a 3-point play to cut the lead to 92-59. Webster scored six straight and Goodrich made two free throws with 38 seconds left for the final points of the game.
Mitchell led the Scots with 13 points while Goodrich had eight. Goodrich led the team with six rebounds and three assists while Beach also had three assists. Jones had three steals and Beach had the lone Monmouth block.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Mitchell is 35-for-38 at the free throw line this season after going 5-for-6 on FridayMitchell has scored at least 10 points in two straight games and 12 times for her Monmouth careerMitchell, Jones, Beach and Goodrich each made three field goalsMonmouth had 12 steals with multiple steals from Hoy, Rangel, Stearns, Cox and JonesFormer Monmouth point guard and 2021-22 Midwest Conference Player of the Year Josie Morgan (Washington, Illinois) was in attendanceThe Scots shot 52% from the field in the second halfThe Scots next play on Dec. 30 at MSOE in Milwaukee and the next home game is Jan. 3 against Lawrence.