FULTON, Mo. – The W women's basketball dropped a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) road contest at Westminster College, 96-80, at Historic Gym. The Owls fell to 1-6 (0-2 SLIAC), while the Blue Jays improved to 3-4 (1-1 SLIAC).
 
A less-than-artistic first half saw the two teams combine for 32 turnovers (17 by MUW and 15 for the Jays). Both teams had 11 steals, with The W committing six unforced errors in the half.
 
(Both teams would eventually finish the game with 25 turnovers, apiece.)
 
Each had 29 field goal attempts in the opening segment, but the real difference was at the foul line. Westminster took advantage of 15 first half fouls by the Owls to book 13 points from the stripe and an eventual 43-29 halftime cushion.
 
The Blue Jays would score the first eight points of the second half and had an 11-2 run to begin the third quarter. That permitted WC to hold an advantage in double-digits the rest of the way and lead by as many as 24 points in the fourth period.
 
MUW had one last gasp in the waning minutes. Still down by 22 points (88-66) midway through the final stanza, a 12-2 run by the Owls cut the deficit to 12 points with 1:41 left to play. But that would be as close as The W would get in dropping its second-consecutive SLIAC game.
 
Calysia Phillips had another all-around game for MUW, finishing with a game-leading 26 points, going 10-for-19 from the field, and giving her six-consecutive double-digit scoring games. Phillips narrowly missed a third-straight double-double by grabbing nine rebounds. She also had eight assists, five steals and a block.
 
Zia Shields came off the bench to tally 15 points, on a 5-of-10 shooting effort. Conley Langford add 14 points and five steals.
 
Claire Leak was MUW's fourth player in double figures with 11 points. Leak hauled in eight rebounds, as well.
 
The Owls will next be in action on Saturday (Dec. 7/1 p.m.) at Webster University.