WEBSTER GROVES - Webster University opened St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play here Thursday evening by watching Spalding outscore the Gorloks, 25-10, in the fourth period to force overtime and ultimately prevail 89-82 in the league opener for both teams at Grant Gymnasium.

Despite the loss, Webster scored a season high 83 points and also recorded season highs in rebounds (40), blocks (6) and made free throws (22). 

With the setback, Webster drops its third straight game and moves its record to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the SLIAC, while Spalding moves to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the league. The Gorloks are now 14-16 all-time in SLIAC openers. 

The Gorloks, who held a 41-29 lead at the half, outscored Spalding 21-18 in the third period to take a 62-47 lead after three periods, including leading by as many as 16 points following a lay-up by junior guard Naomi Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) with 1:19 left in the third period. Johnson's lay-up gave Webster a 60-44 lead. 

In the fourth period, Webster, who played its first overtime game this season and its first overtime game since last season's home contest with Spalding, struggled offensively as they shot 22 percent (2-for-9) from the field and committed eight turnovers that led to nine Spalding points and was outscored, 25-10, to help the Golden Eagles force overtime. 

After the two teams opened the fourth period by each scoring four points each, the Golden Eagles used a 14-5 run over the next five-plus minutes to trim Webster's lead to 71-65 with 3:20 left in regulation. After junior guard Kiara Rhines (Glendale, Ariz./Ironwood) hit 1-of-2 free throws with 3:14 left to give WU a 72-65 lead, Spalding would outscore the Gorloks, 7-0, to tie the game at 72 following a free throw by Hunter Wright with 45 seconds left. 

On the ensuing Webster possession, Johnson missed an open 3-point shot attempt with 27 seconds remaining in regulation and with one second left in regulation, Spalding had two shots to win the game, but both shots were missed to force overtime. 

In overtime, Spalding outscored the Gorloks, 17-10, including going 10-for-10 from the free throw line to earn the victory and pick up its third consecutive win over the Gorloks. 

Thursday's game was marred by foul and free throws as the two teams combined to shoot 65 free throws and were whistled for a total of 56 fouls as each team had 28 fouls. Two players from each team fouled out, including Webster sophomore forward Addison Beussink (Jackson, Mo./Saxony Lutheran) fouling out with 3:34 left in the fourth period. Prior to the foul out, Beussink tallied a career high 23 points and added 10 rebounds for her second double-double this season and her 12th career double-double. 

For the game, Webster shot 34 free throws as they were 22-for-34 at the line, including going 14-for-20 from the line in the second half, while Spalding was 22-for-31 at the line, including going 20-for-24 at the line in the second half and overtime. 

A big factor in Spalding's comeback win on Thursday was Webster's inability to handle the ball as the Gorloks committed 23 turnovers that led to 22 points for Spalding. Webster had 15 of those 23 turnovers in the second half. Spalding committed just 13 turnovers in the game, including just five turnovers over the final 25 minutes of the game. 

In addition to Beussink's double-double, freshman forward Julie Baudendistel (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) also tallied a double-double as she a career high 18 points and pulled down a career high 10 rebounds. 12 of Baudendistel's 18 points came from the 3-point line as she finished the game 4-for-5 from long distance. 

The other two double-digit scorers for Webster were senior guard Jaysea Morgan (Fisk, Mo./Twin Rivers), who had 13 points, four boards, three assists and four steals before fouling out in the overtime session and Johnson, who had 11 points and five assists. All of Johnson's points came in the second half and overtime. 

Spalding was paced offensively by Hunter Wright as she had 23 points and 13 rebounds, including scoring 21 of those 23 points after halftime. Along with Wright, Allison Just added 17 points and six boards, while Maleah Hirn had 15 points before fouling out and Megan Goeing contributed 11 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. 

In the first period, Spalding jumped in front 13-4 just three-plus minutes into the game, before the Gorloks outscored the Golden Eagles, 13-3, to hold a 17-16 lead after the opening 10 minutes. Baudendistel (7 points) and Beussink (6 points) combined for 13 points in the period. 

The Gorloks shot 75 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line in the second period as they outscored Spalding, 24-13 to take its 41-29 lead at the half. Beussink scored 10 of Webster's 24 points in the period. 

For the game, Webster shot 50 percent from the field and 35 percent (6-for-17) from the 3-point line and they held Spalding to 38 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent (7-for-33) from the 3-point line. 

Spalding held a 45-40 edge on the boards, including collecting 18 offensive boards. 

Webster also blocked six shots, including a career high three blocks from sophomore forward Taylor Zarr (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville). 

The Gorloks dished out 22 assists on 27 made baskets and Spalding had 20 assists in the contest.

Webster will look to rebound this coming Monday, Dec. 9 as they travel to Greenville, Ill., for a 6 p.m. SLIAC contest at Greenville University (3-3 overall, 1-0 SLIAC).