WEBSTER GROVES – Webster University Women's Basketball put the brakes on its three-game losing skid here Saturday afternoon as the Gorloks outscored Blackburn 51-25 in the second half of its 85-56 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Beavers on Pink Out Day at Grant Gymnasium.

With the win, Webster snapped its longest losing streak since the 2015-16 season and improved to 16-7 overall and 10-5 in the SLIAC, while Blackburn fell to 4-19 overall and 1-14 in the league. The win also secured Webster's spot in the SLIAC Tournament for the third consecutive season and eighth time in the last 11 years.

The strong second half was aided by a 35 point third quarter by the Gorloks that turned a 34-31 halftime lead into a 69-47 advantage heading into the final quarter. In the final quarter, WU outscored the Beavers, 16-10. 

Junior guard Jaysea Morgan (Fisk, Mo./Twin Rivers) was one of four Gorloks to finish in double digits as she tallied 19 points, added five assists and six steals. Morgan scored 11 of her 19 points in the first half to help the Gorloks hold a 34-31 lead at the half.

After scoring 17 points in the opening quarter and leading 17-10 after the opening 10 minutes, Blackburn rallied as they scored 21 points in the second quarter, including Jenna Dudra scoring nine of those points to cut Webster's lead to just three points at the half. 

In addition to Morgan, freshman forward Addison Beussink (Jackson, Mo./Saxony Lutheran) and sophomore guard Naomi Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) each scored 17 points, while redshirt sophomore forward Kaylee Heggemann (Washington, Mo./Three Rivers CC) added 11 points. 

Johnson and Beussink combined to score 19 of WU's 35 third quarter as Johnson tallied 12 points and Beussink chipped in with seven points.

In the third quarter, Webster forced 13 turnovers and scored 17 points off those turnovers and also shot 18 free throws in the period and made 14 of them. The Beavers were just 4-for-9 from the line in the quarter that featured 18 fouls being called. 

Blackburn was paced by 15 points from Dudra, while Savannah Kruse added eight points and six boards in the loss. Gariel Pierce had seven rebounds to pace the Beavers on the glass. 

For the game, Webster shot 39 percent from the field and just 20 percent from the 3-point line, while Blackburn shot 36 percent from the floor and 33 percent from long distance.

Along with her 17 points, Beussink pulled down 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season as the Gorloks held a 48-44 edge on the glass, including collecting 21 offensive boards. Along with Beussink, freshman guard Hannah Cottrell (Steelville, Mo./Steelville) had a career high 11 rebounds and added eight assists. 

The Gorloks also shot 76 percent from the free throw line as they were 22-for-29 at the line. Blackburn shot just 52 percent from the line as they were 13-for-25 from the line. 

Webster finished the game with 25 assists and had 24 steals as the Beavers committed 37 turnovers in the game. Webster scored 28 points off those turnovers. The Gorloks had 18 turnovers in the game. 

The Gorloks also blocked a season high eight shots, including two from Cottrell. In the game, seven Gorloks recorded at least one blocked shot.

Webster will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 12 as they travel to Elsah, Ill., for a 5:30 p.m. non-conference game at Principia College (1-18 overall). The Gorloks picked up an 88-37 win over the Panthers at home on Jan. 21.