Westminster women blast Blackburn

The Lady Blue Jays' defense was suffocating in a 74-44 SLIAC rout of the Lady Beavers on Saturday afternoon.

Westminster College (13-5, 11-2 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) has won six straight and 11 of its last 12.

The Lady Blue Jays - completing a season sweep of Blackburn College - raced out to a 39-21 halftime lead as their 30-point margin of victory matched their largest advantage of the contest.

The Lady Beavers outrebounded Westminster 45-31, but couldn't overcome a 27-percent shooting effort (18-of-65). The Lady Blue Jays, meanwhile converted 17 Blackburn turnovers into 24 points.

Junior guard Kasey Gatson guided Westminster with 15 points, while junior guard Mackenzie Haddox added 11. Gatson and Haddox shared the team lead in rebounds with seven apiece.

The Lady Blue Jays shot 49 percent (21-of-43) as a team.

Briana Rae posted game highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Beavers (0-20, 0-13).

Westminster - in sole possession of second place in the SLIAC - hosts MacMurray (Illinoic) College in conference action at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Lady Blue Jays demolished the Lady Highlanders 86-50 on Jan. 3 in Jacksonville, Illinois.