BABSON PARK, Fla. (December 19, 2018) – The Webber International University women's basketball team came up short against Clarke University, an NAIA Division-I school from Dubuque, Iowa, that is currently receiving votes in the NAIA Division-I Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, falling by a final score of 87-83 on Wednesday inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center in what was the Warriors' final game before Christmas Break.

Webber (5-7 overall) trailed by 12 after only one quarter as Clarke (8-4) shot 52.4 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes. However, the Warriors began to chip away, using a percentage of 52.9 percent themselves in the second quarter to score 27 points and draw within seven of the Pride at 46-39.

Webber got even closer at the end of the third quarter as Breyonna Reed went the length of the floor in about six seconds to score with 0.5 seconds left and make it a 64-60 deficit.

In the final quarter, Webber made its move but could not sustain it as a free throw by Reed tied the game at 66-66, and then an offensive rebound for the Warriors after Reed's second attempt led to a bucket by Kadejah Huggins a few seconds later that gave Webber its first lead at 68-66 with 7:42 left to play.

Unfortunately, Webber was unable to capitalize on its momentum as an important 11-4 run for Clarke made it 77-72 with 3:32 on the clock.

The Warriors, however, hung tough and used a 3-pointer by Briana Williams to get within three at 78-75 with 2:10 left; and then another three by Williams, this time with only 1:16 remaining, made it a two-point game at 81-79. But, it was not meant to be as the Pride answered with a dagger from three on their next possession.

A layup by Montrese Weller with 10 seconds left made it 85-81 with only 10 seconds left, and then Clarke missed two free throws with nine seconds left, leading to a another layup by Weller with three seconds left to make it 85-83, but it was two little too late as two free throws for the Pride with two seconds left ended it.

Williams finished with five 3-pointers on seven attempts and also led the Warriors in scoring with 19 points on 60 percent shooting from the field overall while adding four assists. In all, Webber put five players in double figures in scoring as Taniya Patrick added 17 points on 60 percent shooting with five rebounds and three blocks, Weller had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, Paris Copeland had 11 points and four boards, and Huggins had 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting with six assists and a career-high five steals.

Reed added eight points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Head Coach Grady Morrell said, "It was one of our best offensive performances of the season so far, but unfortunately it was also one of our worst defensive outings."

After Webber returns from its Christmas Break, the Warriors will host Fisher College from Boston, Massachusetts, at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 28, inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center.