From Washington University Athletics
Junior Caroline Ballard connected on her first five attempted three-pointers in the first half to help the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team to a 99-61 victory over Case Western Reserve University Friday evening in the WU Field House.
The Bears improved to 17-6 overall, 8-4 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) while CWRU fell to 4-18, 1-11 in UAA action. The Spartans (13-32) and WashU (11-25) combined for 24 three-pointers which tied the UAA single game record set by Chicago and Brandeis on Jan. 26, 2006.
Senior Natalie Orr finished with a team-high 18 points while snagging 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year. The Bears doubled Case's total rebounds with 52 as junior Stephanie Botkin and sophomore Kristina Schmelter added eight boards apiece.
Ballard finished with a career-high 16 points with junior Madeline Homoly (13), Schmelter (13) and junior Katie Claussner (12) also reaching double figures.
The Bears rebound discrepancy led to a 25-2 edge in second chance points and a 38-8 advantage in points in the paint. WashU also finished with 27 points off turnovers with 12 steals.
WashU and Case were tied 15-all with 3:29 to go in the first quarter before Ballard hit four consecutive three-pointers and scored 13-straight points for the Bears. Ballard helped WashU to a 28-19 lead, following a free-throw with 1:11 to play in the first. Orr hit a jumper for the final score of the quarter as WashU led 30-22.
Three-pointers from junior Rachael Sondag and Orr opened the second quarter to push the Bears advantage to 14 points to force a Case timeout. WashU continued its hot shooting as it connected on 57.9-percent of its shots (22-38) to lead 59-30 at the half.
Ballard led the team with 16 first half points while Schmelter scored 13 points with five rebounds. Orr totaled nine points, five rebounds and three assists during the opening 20 minutes.
Homoly and Orr combined for 10 of the Bears 15 points in the third quarter with junior Katie Claussner picking up four. The Bears led 74-43 after the third. Claussner continued to have the hot hand in the fourth quarter totaling 12 points in nine minutes of action including the basket which pushed the Bears to a season-high 91 points. Freshman Mary Bryggman scored the final four points for WashU.
Hillary Hellman led the Spartans with 19 points on 7-of-20 shooting from the field, while Emily Todd finished with 17. Alexis Amburgey chipped in 10 points off the bench for CWRU.