Westminster women’s basketball handles business on the road against Blackburn

The Westminster College women’s basketball team traveled to Carlinville, Illinois, to take on the Blackburn College Beavers on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays led from the first quarter to the end of the game and won 79-45. The Blue Jays improve to 5-3 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 11-8 overall. The Beavers fall to 0-8 in the SLIAC and 2-16 on the season.

Blackburn started the game going up 4-0. Then, the Blue Jays scored six points in a row to take a 6-4 lead. That lead grew to 20-16 by the end of the first quarter. Westminster continued to dominate the game and extend its lead, eventually winning the game 79-45.

The Blue Jays’ defense forced 22 turnovers that led to 25 points. They also won the rebounding battle, out-rebounding Blackburn 64-31. The Blue Jays grabbed a staggering 33 offensive rebounds in the game.

Westminster had three players score in double figures in its balanced offensive attack. Shelby Kurtz had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds and five steals. Annette Ramirez had 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Chloe Akerson was the third Blue Jay to score 11 points in the game. She also had five rebounds and three assists. The Jays were 24-31 from the free throw line and 28-82 from the field.

The Blue Jays will be back in action Tuesday for the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game when they host Principia College from inside the Historic Gym. That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.