From Washington University Athletics
The No. 5-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team won for the fifth straight game, earning a 76-57 win over Carnegie Mellon University in University Athletic Association (UAA) action Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at the WU Field House.
Prior to the game, Washington U. recognized graduate student forward Kristin Anda, along with five seniors – managers Greta Dahlberg and Jasmine Williams, guards Lucy Montgomery and Jessy Rosen, and forward Jordan Rettig - who played their final regular-season home game. The Bears' Class of 2014 has helped Washington U. to a 90-20 overall record (.818) in its four seasons, including a 43-12 (.782) mark in the UAA.
Washington U. made eight of its first 11 field goals, and a reverse layup by Anda gave the Bears an 18-9 lead with 14:00 left in the first half. Carnegie Mellon got to within four (18-14), but a basket and free throw by Anda followed by a three-pointer by Rosen gave Washington U. a 24-14 lead with 10:52 left. The Bears continued to build the lead, taking their largest of the half (32-19) on a pair of free throws by junior forward Melissa Gilkey with 6:50 to play in the half.
The Tartans answered with an 11-3 run over the next four minutes to get to within 35-30. A pullup jumper by Anda and a three-pointer from the wing by junior guard Alyssa Johanson made it 40-30. After a basket by the Tartans got them to within eight, Anda got a putback basket just ahead of the halftime buzzer to give the Bears a 42-32 lead at the break.
The Bears used an 11-2 run to open the second half to extend their lead to 53-34 on a three-pointer by junior guard Maddy Scheppers with 15:47 to play. Carnegie Mellon got to within 60-45 with 7:02 left in the game, but a 7-2 run by the Bears, including Scheppers' third three-pointer of the game, gave Washington U. its largest lead (67-47) with 4:57 left. The Tartans were unable to get closer than 17 points the remainder of the game as Washington U. finished with the 76-57 win.
Washington U. shot 45.3 percent (29-64) from the field in the game and were 8-of-21 from three-point range. Carnegie Mellon shot 37.7 percent (20-53) from the field, including just 25 percent (6-24) in the second half, and were 5-of-19 from three-point range. The Tartans scored 11 of their 25 second-half points at the free-throw line, finishing 12-of-15 in the game, while Washington U. was 10-of-13 at the charity stripe in the game. The Bears dominated the boards, finishing with a 41-30 rebounding advantage, and had 23 assists on 29 field goals. Washington U. also turned 19 Carnegie Mellon turnovers into a 23-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
Gilkey led all scorers with 18 points and three blocked shots. Anda added 13 points, including 11 in the first half, five rebounds and a team-high three steals. Johanson also finished in double figures, scoring 11 points off the bench, while adding seven rebounds. Scheppers had nine points on three three-pointers, and sophomore guard Jordan Thompson added eight points, a season-high 10 assists and four rebounds. Rettig tallied seven points and seven rebounds for the Bears.
Washington U. improved to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in the UAA with the win, while Carnegie Mellon dropped to 12-12 overall and 3-10 in the conference. The Bears close the regular season with a road game at the University of Chicago at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 1. The Maroons are second in the UAA standings (15-9, 9-4 UAA), but Washington U. earned an 87-72 win over Chicago in the conference opener Jan. 11 in St. Louis.