From Washington University Athletics
The No. 12 Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team defeated New York University, 80-48, in the first of a two game University Athletic Association (UAA) weekend home stand behind a season-high 26 assists on Friday's Green Dot Doubleheader in the Field House.
WashU improved its record to 13-2 overall while evening its record at 2-2 within UAA play. NYU fell to 10-5 while remaining winless in the UAA with a 0-4 record.
Several Bears reached double-figures in scoring as seniors Zoe Vernon and Lily Sarros led the game with 13 points apiece. Sophomore Madeline Homoly totaled 12 points, while junior Natalie Orr and sophomores Rachael Sondag and Stephanie Botkin finished one basket shy of double figures.
The Bears shot 50.8 percent from the field (32-63), the fourth time on the season WashU has reached the 50 percent mark. On the defensive end, WashU held the NYU lineup to 31.5 percent from the floor (17-54) and did not let a single Violets player reach double-digits.
WashU combined great ball movement with great court awareness as the team finished with 26 assists compared to seven turnovers. Also the Bears bench combined for 38 points to outscore NYU's 18 bench points as nine WashU reserves saw action.
NYU took the early lead against the Bears but Vernon set up a jumper from senior Jenn Dynis to put the Bears ahead 8-7. Vernon set up another basket by Dynis and led to a three-point play by Orr with a defensive rebound. WashU's 7-0 run put the Bears ahead 13-7 with five minutes to go in the first quarter. The Red and Green never looked back and worked their way to a 24-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. Vernon, Orr and sophomore Rachael Sondag totaled five points each in the opening quarter.
A tightly contested second quarter ensued as NYU attempted to close the gap. Homoly led WashU in the second quarter by converting three of four shots from the floor which included the last four points to give the Bears a halftime advantage of 38-27.
The Bears used a quick start in the second half to grow their lead to 51-31 including a triple from Vernon on a cross court feed from sophomore Claudia Smith. Sarros converted two straight jumpers to help the Bears to the 20-point advantage. Sophomore Becca Clark-Callender helped the Bears continue to increase their lead with a sharp pass to Homoly under the basket for a non contested layup. WashU outscored NYU 21-10 in the third quarter and led 59-37 heading into the fourth.
WashU made it three of four quarters reaching at least 20 points on a three pointer from senior Ereka Hunt to close out the fourth quarter scoring for the Bears. Sophomore Stephanie Botkin also made her presence felt down the stretch scoring seven of her nine total points during a three-minute stretch. In the fourth quarter WashU's offense benefited from great ball distribution as all seven of the team's baskets were successfully converted with assists. Sophomore Katie Claussner assisted on the final two baskets of the game.
The Bears finished with a season-high 26 assists as 10 of 14 players to see action tallied at least one. Smith led WashU with six assists to tie a career- and season-high while Vernon added five.
Sarros led the Bears on the glass with eight rebounds while Vernon contributed seven. Homoly added three steals for the Bears while Vernon denied two shots on the defensive end.