ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Playing its second consecutive game in the Land of Lincoln here Saturday afternoon, Webster University Women's Basketball was outscored by a combined 51-20 in the first and fourth periods en route to an 80-56 setback to Augustana College at the Carver PE Building. 

With the loss, Webster has now dropped two straight games as they fell 78-56 on Tuesday at Millikin University and moves its record to 2-3 on the season, while Augustana extended its win streak to three straight games and improves its record to 4-4 on the year.

In Saturday's game, Webster's offense once again struggled as the Gorloks shot 31 percent from the field and were 3-for-12 (25 percent) from the three-point line. In its three losses this season, Webster is shooting just 31 percent from the field and 22 percent (8-for-36) from the 3-point line and have committed the same number of turnovers (71) as their three opponents. 

Sophomore forward Addison Beussink (Jackson, Mo./Saxony Lutheran) continued her strong play this season on Saturday as she paced the Gorloks with 11 points and added seven boards. Beussink has been WU's leading scorer in four of its first five games this season and is averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on the year. 

In addition to Beussink, freshman guard Tiffany Sakamoto (St. Louis, Mo./Saint Joseph Academy) tied a career high with nine points and added four boards, while sophomore guard Hannah Cottrell (Steelville, Mo./Steelville) and junior guard Naomi Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) each had seven points combined for five assists and four steals.

Saturday's game turned in the first period as the Vikings outscored the Gorloks, 28-11, including the period on a 9-0 run following a lay-up by Beussink with four minutes left in the period to pull Webster within eight at 19-11. In the opening period, Augustana shot 69 percent from the fioor and 60 percent from the 3-point line, while Webster shot 27 percent from the floor and 25 percent from long distance. 

Webster, though, would respond in the second period as the Gorloks outscored Augie, 23-13, to cut Augustana's lead at the half to 41-34. In the period, In the period, the Vikings would score the first two points of the period to push its lead to 30-11, but the Gorloks would respond with a 7-0 run capped by a Beussink lay-up to cut Augie's lead to 30-18. 

Augie's lead would eventually reach 17 points again (37-20) at the 4:15 mark of the second period, but the Gorloks would score 14 of the period's final 18 points to go into halftime trailing 41-34. The second period closing run was keyed by Webster making 8-of-10 free throws and sophomore guard Lauryn Freeman (Fort Worth, Texas/Timberland) hitting a jumper with 14 seconds left in the period.

In the third period, Webster scored five of the first seven points of the period to pull within four at 43-39 after Beussink made 1-of-2 free throws. The Vikings, though, would respond with a 9-0 run capped by a trey from Mia Lambert to push its lead to 52-39 with 5:28 left in the period. Webster would close the period on a 6-1 run to pull within 54-45 heading to the fourth period. 

The fourth period was dominated by Augustana as the Vikings shot 64 percent from the field and was 3-for-3 from downtown as they outscored the Gorloks, 23-9, in the period to set the final margin. In the final period, Webster shot just 25 percent from both the field and 3-point line. 

Alexis Jones paced Augustana with 19 points and 13 rebounds and also had five steals and four assists in the win. In addition to Jones, who had 28 points against the Gorloks in Augie's 63-59 win last season at Grant Gymnasium, Gabriela Loiz added 14 points and six steals, while Jeni Crain was the third Vking in double figures with 13 points. 

While Webster struggled shooting the ball, the Vikings finished the game shooting 51 percent from the field and 39 percent from the 3-point line. 

Webster also lost the turnover battle for the second time this season as the Gorloks had 30 turnovers and forced 28. Augustana scored 28 points off of WU's 30 turnovers, while Webster scored 22 points off of the Vikings miscues. 

Augustana picked up 24 steals and had 15 assists in the win and held a 42-33 edge on the boards. 

Saturday's game featured a combined 58 fouls and 56 free throws being shot as Webster was 19-for-30 (63.3 percent) at the line and Augustana was 17-for-26 (65.4 percent). 

The Gorloks will look to snap its two-game losing skid this coming Thursday, Oct. 5 as they open St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 5:30 p.m. contest at Grant Gymnasium against Spalding University.