From Washington University Athletics
The No. 13-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team shot above 50-percent from the floor for the third straight game in route to defeating Oglethorpe University 90-79 to advance to the 17th Annual McWilliams Classic Championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the WU Field House.
WashU improved to 4-1 on the season while handing the Stormy Petrels just their second loss of the year (4-2). Overall the Bears finished with a 55.9-field goal percentage (33-of-59) while their 10 three-pointers fell a single three-pointer shy of tying the single game record in McWilliams Classic record book.
Senior Natalie Orr (8), junior Becca Clark-Callender (8) and junior Rachael Sondag (6) either set or tied their personal-best marks in assists as the Bears collectively finished three assists short of tying the single game record in McWilliams Classic history.
Five Bears finished in double figure scoring led by junior Madeline Homoly's 24 points. Also scoring in double digits were Sondag (17), junior Stephanie Botkin (16), Orr (10) and junior Caroline Ballard (10). Both Botkin and Ballard set new career-bests in scoring.
WashU went 10-of-12 from the floor in the first six minutes of action to build a 10-point advantage, leading 26-16. Orr contributed five assists during the opening minutes while the Bears assisted on all 10 of the baskets during the 26-16 run.
Homoly led the Bears with 14 points at halftime and the Bears nearly assisted on every basket in the first half of play as they led 51-40. WashU finished the first half with 19 assists as the Bears shot 64.5-percent from the field (20-of-31). Orr tallied seven of her eight assists in the game's opening 20 minutes.
The Stormy Petrels cut WashU's halftime lead to single digits in the third quarter but back-to-back three-pointers by Sondag put the Bears back in firm control, leading 63-48. Homoly and Sondag each finished the quarter with nine points each as WashU stretched its lead to 77-56.
Despite being outscored 23-13 in the final quarter, WashU closed out the victory winning 90-79. Junior Katie Claussner scored all eight of her points in the final quarter on two-of-three shooting from the field and four-of-four shooting from the free-throw line.
Oglethorpe had three individuals reach double-figures in scoring: Savannah LeGate (19), Jada Triplett (16) and Clarissa Hopkins (10). LeGate ended the game with a double-double as she also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Orr and Homoly led the Bears in rebounding with seven apiece while WashU corralled 45 altogether compared to the Stormy Petrels 34.