LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Webster University Women's Basketball committed 30 turnovers and 32 percent from the field here Saturday afternoon as the Gorloks suffered a 70-43 loss to Spalding in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at Derek Smith Gymnasium on the Spalding University campus.
 
With the loss, Webster falls to 6-3 overall and is now 3-1 in the SLIAC, while Spalding improves to 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the league. Webster has now lost back-to-back games for the first time since losing to Augustana and Westminster (Mo.) in late November last season.
 
The 43 points were the fewest scored by the Gorloks since scoring 39 points in a 90-39 loss at WashU on Dec. 9, 2015. In addition, the 30 turnovers marked the second consecutive game that Webster had at least 30 turnovers as they had a season high 31 turnovers in its 83-74 setback last Saturday at Covenant and have now had four games this season with at least 28 turnovers. 
 
After trailing 35-19 at the half, the Gorloks mounted a mini-rally in the third period as they closed the period 10-2 run to pull within 13 at 50-37 heading into the final period. WU's third period run began with a trey from sophomore guard Naomi Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) and was capped by a lay-up from freshaman guard Caity Jones (West Plains, Mo./Thayer). 
 
The Golden Eagles, though, would outscore the Gorloks, 20-6 in the final period, including the period on a 10-0 run to push its lead to 23 points at 60-37, to set the final margin and snap its three-game losing skid to the Gorloks. The six point period was the lowest scoring period of the season for the Gorloks. 
 
Freshman forward Addison Beussink (Jackson, Mo./Saxony Lutheran) led Webster's offense with 11 points and added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year. Along with Beussink, Johnson added 10 points and five rebounds, but committed a team-high six turnovers. 
 
Junior guard Jaysea Morgan (Fisk, Mo./Twin Rivers) had seven points and four assists, but sat most of the first half after picking up three fouls. 
 
Despite shooting just 29 percent from the field in the first half, Spalding forced Webster into 18 turnovers that led to 18 points to give the Golden Eagles its 16 halftime lead. 11 of WU's 18 turnovers came in the second period as Spalding turned a 17-12 lead after the first period into a 35-17 lead with 25 seconds left in the second period. WU, though, would cap the first half scoring with two free throws by Johnson with one second left. 
 
In the second period, the Gorloks were outscored, 18-7. The seven points are the second fewest by the Gorloks in a period this season.
 
The Golden Eagles finished the game scoring 30 of their 70 points off of Webster's turnovers. The Gorloks forced Spalding into 17 turnovers, but were able to score just 10 points off the those turnovers.
 
Webster entered the game fifth among all NCAA women's basketball playing schools at forcing turnovers as were forcing 30.9 turnovers per game, along with leading all of NCAA women's basketball in steals per game as they were averaging 19.3 per game. Webster had eight steals in Saturday's game.
 
For the game, Webster made just 32 percent of its field goals and was just 1-for-8 from the 3-point line. In addition, the Gorloks also struggled at the foul line as they made shot just 6-for-14 (43 percent) from the line, including Beussink going 1-for-6 at the charity stripe.
 
Spalding didn't fare much better shooting the ball on Saturday as the Golden Eagles finished the contest shooting just 34 percent from the field and 34 percent from the 3-point line.
 
The Golden Eagles, though, were strong at the free throw as they made 18 of its 22 free throws and shot 82 percent from the line. Spalding entered the game shooting just 54 percent from the line. 
 
Spalding also held a 47-41 edge on the boards and each team had 12 assists in the contest
 
Alex Martin led the way offensively for Spalding with 17 points, while Allison Just added 13 points and Tse Gahagan and Maleah Hirn each had nine points in the win. 
 
The Gorloks will return to action in less than 24 hours and will look to snap its two game losing skid as they host Lawrence University for a 2 p.m. non-conference game on Sunday, Dec. 16 at Grant Gymnasium. Lawrence enters the game with a 4-5 record after picking up a 71-59 win on Friday at SLIAC foe, MacMurray College.