From Washington University Athletics
The No. 5-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team recorded a season-high 14 steals and scored 25 points off turnovers to lead the Bears to an 88-59 win at Webster University Wednesday evening.
Washington U. took an early 4-0 lead in the game before a driving layup by Webster brought the Gorloks to within 6-5 with 16:57 left in the first half. The Bears went on a 17-0 run over the next 6:53, including nine points by senior Melissa Gilkey. After three points by junior Amanda Martinez gave Washington U. its largest lead of the half at 26-7, the Gorloks scored eight straight points to spark a 15-6 run that cut the Bears' lead to 10 points at 32-22 with 3:27 remaining in the half. Washington U. outscored Webster 10-5 in the final 3:16 of the half to go into halftime with a 42-27 lead.
Senior Maddy Scheppers hit a three-pointer on the Bears' first possession of the second half to extend the lead to 18, and Webster was unable to get closer than 17 the remainder of the game. The Bears stretched the lead to 30 late in the half, before finishing with the 29-point win.
Washington U. shot 48 percent (36-75) from the field in the game, while Webster finished with 37.9 percent (22-58) shooting from the field. The Gorloks were helped by shooting 38.9 percent (7-18) from three-point range, but were just 2-of-6 in the second half. The Bears finished with a 47-35 rebounding advantage in the game, including 20 offensive rebounds that led to a 21-5 advantage in second-chance points.
Defensively, Washington U. forced 22 turnovers by the Gorloks, including a season-high 14 steals, and finished outscored Webster 25-8 in points off turnovers. The Bears also had season-highs with 22 assists and seven blocked shots in the win.
Gilkey recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while also blocking three shots. Martinez scored a career-high 12 points and equaled her career-high with six rebounds off the bench for the Bears. Junior Jordan Thompson added season-highs of nine points, nine assists and three steals, while Scheppers finished with eight points and equaled her career-high with four steals. Junior Katybeth Biewen chipped in with six points, five assists and three steals.
Washington U. improved to 7-0 with the win, while Webster dropped to 5-4. The Bears host Millikin University at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the WU Field House.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series against Webster 15-1 … It was the 670th win of head coach Nancy Fahey's 29-year career at Washington U. … All seven of the Bears' wins this season have been by more than 22 points … The Bears have outrebounded all of their opponents this season, and are 66-7 in the past four seasons when winning the rebounding battle … The Bears had at least 10 different individuals score for the sixth time this season … With her 10 rebounds, Gilkey brought her career total to 689 and passed Tasha Rodgers (1997-01) for eighth on the Bears' all-time career rebounding list.