COLUMBUS, Miss. – In a game versus a nationally-ranked opponent, any team would need everything going its way to have a chance at an upset. Unfortunately for the Mississippi University for Women women's basketball squad, little went in its favor in a 97-51 loss at home to NCAA Division III No. 30/31-ranked Webster University, in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) match-up at Pohl Gymnasium.
 
And, for the most part, it wasn't like the Owls (5-7, 4-4 SLIAC) brought a knife to the proverbial gun fight, showing some weapons of their own in the contest. It was more a case of the unbeaten Gorloks (16-0, 9-0 SLIAC) having a whole set of Ginsu blades at their disposal.
 
Webster had a total of 18 individuals see action in the game, with none playing over 22 minutes in its "line change" substitution system, and four double-figure scorers. All eight MUW players scored in the game and saw significant minutes, but had no magic potion to stop the hot-shooting Gorloks: 49 percent (39-80) from the floor and 46 percent (11-24) from three-point range.
 
Mother Nature did MUW no favors, either. After an off day last Sunday and again on Monday in respect for Dr. Martin Luther King Day, The W campus was shut down all week due to the frigid weather and road conditions. That precluded the Owls from even getting into the gym to prep for the four-time SLIAC regular season defending champions, while likely not altering the outcome as much as disrupting the Owls' routine versus a very worthy opponent.
 
The W's returning all-American Conley Langford (Calhoun City, Miss.) certainly proved, once again, that she makes the cut versus any opponent. The junior guard scored in double digits for a 20th-consecutive game (dating back to 2022-23), leading all scorers with 22 points versus Webster, despite her first-half foul trouble. Langford was an efficient 8-for-11 from the floor and converted 6-of-9 free throws. At 5-foot-6 inches, Langford also corralled a team-leading seven rebounds, while dishing off three assists.
 
Freshman Darby Pitts (Mantachie, Miss.) came off of the Owls' bench to chip in 11 points. Pitts pulled down five boards, as well.
 
Claire Leak finished with an all-around good night of seven points, five rebounds, two steals, and a team-best four assists. Jas Patrick also had four assists for The W in the setback.
 
MUW will try to regroup by Saturday (Jan. 20), when it welcomes Webster College for another SLIAC bout at 1 p.m. in Pohl gym.