NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Despite pulling to within five early in the second half, the Carthage Firebirds women's basketball team was defeated in day one of Music City Classic action - falling to the Webster University Gorloks. Webster used a 9:26 scoring drought for the Firebirds to seize control of the contest and move to 9-1 on the year. Carthage falls to 5-6, with day two of tournament action beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT tomorrow. 



 

• Final score: Webster 58, Carthage 45. 
• Location: Welch Activities Center - Nashville, Tennessee. 
• Records: Carthage 5-6 (2-1 CCIW), Webster 9-1

 
 

• Marianna Morrissey got the Firebirds on the board first with a layup, but the Gorloks responded promptly with an 11-0 run to create an early advantage. Elena Knebel ended the Webster run with a layup through contact. 
• Free throws from Destiny Antoine and a Lauren Knight layup pulled Carthage within six points, but a Gorlok field goal in the final minute of the opening quarter created a 17-9 lead for the acting home team heading into the second quarter of play. 
• A slick layup by Destiny Antoine, made possible by a nifty pump fake at the top of the paint, brought Carthage to within four points midway through the second quarter - trailing 21-17. 
• Buckets by Morrissey and Pakaski kept the Firebirds within four near the tail end of the half. The Gorloks led 25-21 with three minutes remaining in the first half. 
• Webster generated some additional separation in the final minutes of the half with a jumper and a quartet of free throws, and led by ten going into the locker room. 
• A quick 5-0 run to start the second half trimmed the Gorlok lead to five, as Lauren Knight and Marianna Morrissey each converted on the offensive end. The lead shrunk to as little as four before a pair of Webster baskets rebuilt the Gorlok lead to eight. 
• Carthage's offense went cold late in the third quarter, as the team failed to score over the final 3:30. Webster extended its lead to 11. 
• Neither team could buy a bucket in the first 2:45 of the final quarter until a Webster layup opened up the scoring. Webster's defense held Carthage scoreless for 9:26 of game action and used that stifling defense to grasp firm control of the game. The lead shot up to 15 before Emma Thistle finally ended the scoring drought at the charity stripe. 
• Two layups by Malia Green in the closing minutes, as well as a Marianna Morrissey And-1, cut the deficit to 14. Jessie Pakaski hit a three to bring the score to 58-45, but time ran out on Carthage and the Gorloks walked away with an impressive victory. 
• 28 turnovers, 30 fouls, a -16 rebounding margin, and a 32.1/15/61.5 shooting split proved to be too much for Carthage to overcome, even with an admirable performance defensively. The Firebirds forced 29 Webster turnovers and limited the Gorloks to 0-13 shooting from three. Carthage outscored Webster 15-4 in fastbreak scoring and was +9 in bench scoring, as well. 

 

• Marianna Morrissey put forth an impressive showing offensively, scoring 14 points to lead the Firebirds. Morrissey also stole two passes and hauled in five rebounds. 
• Malia Green scored four points in the fourth quarter, which is a career best. 
• Six Firebirds recorded at least one steal against Webster. 
• Destiny Antoine gathered five rebounds in the defeat. 

• Day two of the Music City Classic for the Firebirds commences tomorrow, Friday, December 30 beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT as Carthage takes on Meredith College.