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Four in Double Figures as No. 9 Bears Hang On for Win at Emory

Four in Double Figures as No. 9 Bears Hang On for Win at Emory

From Washington University Athletics

 Junior Jenn Dynis recorded career-highs of 16 points and seven rebounds to lead four players in double figures for the No. 9-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team as the Bears battled to a 72-69 win at Emory University Sunday afternoon in University Athletic Association (UAA) play.

WashU improved to 16-4 overall and 7-2 in the UAA with the win, while Emory dropped to 11-9 overall and 2-7 in conference play. The Bears remained in a tie for first in the UAA standings with the University of Rochester. New York University fell a game behind with a loss at Case Western Reserve University Sunday.

After building a 54-46 lead, WashU traded baskets with the Eagles through the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Dynis got a putback, then a fastbreak layup to extend the Bears' lead to double-digits at 64-54 with 3:12 remaining. After a basket by the Eagles cut the lead to eight, senior Jordan Thompson got a fastbreak layup and converted the free throw for the three-point play to give WashU a 67-56 advantage with 48 seconds left. The Eagles quickly answered with a three, then forced a turnover and knocked down another three to make it 67-62 with 26 seconds left.

After Dynis made one free throw, the Eagles made two to get to within four. Thompson made two free throws with 22 seconds left, but Emory hit its third three of the final 41 seconds to make it a three-point game. Sophomore Natalie Orr made two free throws to again make it a two-possession game with 11 seconds left, before Emory got a putback at the buzzer to make the final score 72-69.

Emory scored eight of the final 10 points of the first quarter to build a 26-19 lead entering the second quarter. It took just 83 seconds for WashU to erase the seven-point deficit, including five points by Thompson, who was playing after picking up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game. Emory scored the next five points to regain a 31-26 advantage with 7:03 to play. Thompson drove the lane and spun for a layup, then senior Amanda Martinez found Dynis for a fastbreak layup to make it a one-point game. A layup by Martinez gave the Bears a 32-31 lead with 4:34 to play in the half.

The teams each went 2-of-4 at the free-throw line over the next minute as WashU maintained the one-point lead until a three from the wing by junior Zoe Vernon made it 37-33 with 2:08 to play in the half. Emory got its second field goal of the quarter with 1:48 remaining, but senior Alexandra Keane found a wide open Vernon under the basket with 21 seconds left to give WashU a 39-35 lead at halftime. The Bears played tenacious defense, limiting Emory to 2-of-10 from the field and forcing five turnovers, while outscoring Emory 20-9 in the second quarter.

WashU extended the lead to six (43-37) after baskets by Martinez and Thompson early in the third quarter. The Eagles answered with their fifth three-pointer of the game to pull to within three, but WashU went on an 11-1 run over the next five minutes and a three by Dynis made it 54-41 with 2:11 left in the third. Emory ended the run with a three and made a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds of the quarter to pull to within eight heading into the fourth.

WashU finished with 45 percent (27-60) field-goal shooting in the win, and was 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from beyond the arc. The Eagles shot 36.2 percent (21-58) from the field, but made a season-high 10 three-pointers (10-25, 40 percent). The Eagles also finished 17-of-24 at the free-throw line, while WashU was 13-of-19. The Bears finished with a 40-35 rebounding advantage, but Emory had a 19-11 edge in second-chance points after both teams grabbed 14 offensive boards.

Dynis led the Bears with 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while shooting 7-of-9 from the field. Thompson added 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Martinez finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Vernon also scored in double figures, finishing with 11 points off the bench. Freshman Claudia Smith equaled Dynis with a career-high seven rebounds to go with her four points, while senior Katybeth Biewen dished out a team-high five assists.

The Bears return home for their final two regular-season home games next weekend. WashU hosts Case Western Reserve University at 6 p.m. Friday, before taking on Carnegie Mellon University at 2 p.m. Sunday. Friday night is Hall of Fame Night and Eliot Family Night at the WU Field House. WashU will also have a special court dedication ceremony following the women's game. Sunday's game against Carnegie Mellon will also be Senior Day for the Bears.

Bear Notebook: WashU improved to 48-7 all-time against Emory, winning for the eighth straight time in the series … Martinez scored in double figures for the 14th time this season and fifth game in a row.