From Washington University Athletics
Fourteen different players scored for the No. 10-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team as the Bears earned a 78-38 win at Lake Forest College in the season-opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.
Washington U. built a quick 8-0 lead in the game, before Lake Forest was able to get on the scoreboard with a three-pointer at the 15:04 mark in the first half. After the Foresters missed a pair of free throws, senior forward Melissa Gilkey scored four straight points and junior guard Jordan Thompson nailed a three to extend the Bears' lead to 15-3 and force a Forester timeout with 13:18 remaining in the first half. Washington U. continued to pull away the remainder of the half, and Gilkey hit a three just four seconds before the halftime buzzer to give the Bears a 39-16 lead at the break.
Gilkey and junior guard Katybeth Biewen scored the first six points of the second half to extend Washington U.'s lead to 45-16 before a timeout by Lake Forest. After a basket by the Foresters, Washington U. went on an 8-0 run and four straight free throws by Gilkey made it 53-18 with 15:52 left. The Bears took their largest lead of the game at 76-32 after a three-point play by senior guard Alexis Mort with 3:38 remaining, before finishing with the 40-point win.
Washington U. shot 38.8 percent (26-of-67) from the field in the game and 19-of-25 from the free-throw line. Lake Forest was limited to 28.9 percent (13-of-45) shooting. The Bears also finished with a 48-33 rebounding advantage and forced 24 turnovers by the Foresters, including 12 steals.
Gilkey posted the 20th double-double of her career with game-highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bears in the win. Biewen scored seven points, while Thompson, senior forward Alyssa Johanson, senior guard Alexandra Keane, senior center Steph Vukotic, junior center Paige Naig and sophomore guard Ereka Hunt added six points each. Johanson also equaled her career-highs with eight points and four assists.
Washington U. hosts the 14th Annual McWilliams Classic Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22. The Bears take on Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the home opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.
Bear Notebook: It was the 725th victory in Washington University's program history … The Bears are 25-4 in season openers under head coach Nancy Fahey, including wins in each of the last seven … Washington U. leads the all-time series between the two teams 6-1 … It was the first 40-point win for Washington U. since the 2009-10 season.