Box Score

For the first time, since joining the SLIAC in the 2010-11 season, the Lady Eagles are the SLIAC Women's Basketball Champions. Saturday afternoon the Lady Eagles defeated Webster University 60-58 to win their first championship; with the win Spalding will also advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

Spalding forward, Jessica Guy led the way with 23 points and 24 rebounds. For her outstanding performance in today's win as well as in yesterday's 70-64 semifinal victory against Westminster College (21 points, 12 rebounds), Guy was named tournament MVP. Kerstin Hayes, guard for Spalding, added 16 points; Hayes' play was also acknowledged as she received All-Tournament Honors.

Leading the Gorloks of Webster was Courtney Pursley with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Gorlok Cassie Endicott added 13 points and 7 blocks.

Eight minutes into the game, a run by the Gorloks put Spalding down 12-3; the Lady Eagles would spend the rest of the half trying to dig themselves out of a double digit hole. Over the last 12 minutes, Spalding set the pace and ended the half outscoring the Gorloks 16 to 12, and while they were able to cut into Webster's lead, it would not be enough to overcome the deficit as the Gorlocks went into the locker room with a 25-19 advantage.

Guy's seven first half points led the way for Spalding and Dee Dee Sliter added six points off the bench. The Lady Eagles shot just 21.2% (7 of 33) from the field and 25% behind the arc. Their opponent ended the half shooting 33.3% (9 of 27) but only made 1 of 5 (20%) 3-point shots.

In the first five minutes of the half, Spalding outscored the Gorloks 11 to 6 to cut the Webster lead to just 31-30. A 9-0 run pushed the Gorloks lead back to double digits as they led the Lady Eagles 40-30 with 10:50 left to play. SU responded with a run of their own; a 3-point shot from Hayes topped a Spalding 12-0 run that put the Lady Eagles up 42-40 with 7:55 to play.

The next 7:55 would be the most intense as there were four ties and four lead changes. Guy and Hayes came up big for Spalding down the stretch as they scored 14 of the Lady Eagles last 18 points including two Hayes 3-point shots. Their efforts in the last 8 minutes helped secure a 60-58 Spalding Victory over Webster and their first SLIAC Women's Basketball Championship.

The 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball selection show will be aired on www.ncaa.com, on Monday, March 3, at 2:30 p.m., EST. First-round action begins Friday, March 7, at sites to be determined.