WEBSTER GROVES - Webster University opened its 2019-20 women's basketball season here Friday evening by outscoring the University of the Ozarks 50-20 in the middle two quarters en route to posting a 71-48 win over the Eagles in the Webster Tip-Off Classic at Grant Gymnasium.

With the victory, Webster has now won eight consecutive season openers since falling 47-45 to Concordia (Chicago) in the first game of the Webster Tip-Off Classic in 2011. In addition, Webster improved to 12-5 all-time in its own Tip-Off Classic and has won seven straight games in the ninth-annual event since falling 56-46 to Aurora in 2015. Ozarks (Ark.) fell to 0-2 on the season. 

The Gorloks, who return all five starters and 13 letterwinners from last season's 17-9 squad that placed fourth in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and fell in overtime to Greenville in the SLIAC Tournament semifinals, put three players in double figures in the game as sophomore forward Addison Beussink (Jackson, Mo./Saxony Lutheran) tallied a game-high 13 points and added 10 rebounds for her 11th career double-double. In addition to Beussink, junior guard Naomi Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) added 12 points amd freshman Julie Baudendistel (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) had 10 points in 17 minutes of action in her collegiate debut. 

After Ozarks (Ark.) jumped out to a 14-11 lead following the first period, the Gorloks, who scored the first six points of the game, opened the second period on a 23-2 run that was capped by back-to-back lay-ups from Beussink and Baudendistel to give the Gorloks a 34-16 lead. After two free throws by Faith Curry pushed the Eagles within 34-18, the Gorloks would close the half by scoring the final six of the final eight points, including a lay-up by junior forward Kaylee Heggemann (Dutzow, Mo./Three Rivers CC) with six seconds left in the period to give Webster a 40-20 halftime lead. 

After outscoring Ozarks (Ark.), 29-6 in the second period, the Gorloks would outscore the Eagles 21-14 in the third period to extend its lead to 61-34 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game. In the third period, Webster shot 58 percent from the field and was 4-for-6 (67 percent) from the 3-point line and eventually pushed its lead to as much as 29 points two times with the final time coming with 1:05 left in the period following a lay-up by Baudendistel. Heggemann and Baudendistel combined to score nine points in the period as Heggemann had five points and Baudendistel added four points. 

In the fourth period, the Eagles would outscore the Gorloks, 14-10 to set the final margin. The Gorloks would score the first points of the period on a jumper by senior guard Jaysea Morgan (Fisk, Mo./Twin Rivers) to push its lead to 63-34, but the Eagles would respond with a 14-4 run over the next seven-plus minutes to cut Webster's lead to 67-48. Lay-ups from sophomore guard Amaya Baker (McDonough, Ga./Union Grove) and freshman guard Tiffany Sakamoto (St. Louis, Mo./Saint Joseph Academy) in the final 70 seconds capped the scoring. 

Along with the three double-digit scorers, Heggmann tallied nine points, while Morgan added eight points and sophomore guard Hannah Cottrell (Steelville, Mo./Steelville) scored seven points, have five boards, four assists and two blocked shots. 

Ozarks (Ark.) was paced offensively by 10 points apiece from Kelsey Dixson and Kamryn McKinney, while Carly Grace Dougan added seven points.  Dixson also pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. 

Webster's defense held Kerigan Bradshaw to six points in the game as Bradshaw entered the game having scored 30 points in their team's season opener last weekend against Rhodes College. All four of Bradshaw's points came after halftime.

The Eagles held a 44-32 edge on the boards, including pulling down 19 offensive rebounds. 

Webster finished the night shooting 44 percent from the field, 50 percent (5-for-10) from the 3-point line and 82 percent (14-for-17) from the free throw line, while Ozarks (Ark.) shot 34 percent from the field and was 1-for-16 (6.3 percent) from the 3-point line and was shot 50 percent (7-for-14) from the free throw line. 

The Gorloks forced the Eagles into 27 turnover that led 25 points, while WU had 16 turnovers that led to 14 points for the Eagles. Webster had 12 steals, including three each from Beussink and junior guard Kiara Rhines (Glendale, Ariz./Ironwood) and the Gorloks also had 14 assists on 26 made baskets. 

Webster will conclude its season opening Tip-Off Classic on Saturday, Nov. 16 with a 3 p.m. game in the championship game of the event against Edgewood College, who opened the event with a 72-43 win over Illinois College. Illinois College will meet Ozarks (Ark.) in the consolation game on Saturday at 1 p.m.