From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team wrapped up the 2021-22 regular season on Saturday in impressive fashion, rolling past Chicago 65-52 at the Field House.
The Bears improve to 14-11 overall (8-6, UAA) while Chicago drops to 14-10 (7-7, UAA) and sweep the season series against the Maroons.
Senior Samantha Weaver was recognized before the contest and was also awarded with the Robert L. Pearce Award, which is presented annually to a student-athlete who best exemplifies 110% effort & perseverance.
The Bears got after it all afternoon defensively, forcing 17 turnovers and scoring 20 points off turnovers.
WU won the rebounding margin 36-29 and produced 38 points in the paint with 14 second-chance points.
Maya Arnott led the Bears in scoring with 16 points on 7-9 shooting, while Jessica Brooks recorded 15 points, six rebounds, and shot 3-5 from three-point range.
Weaver led the Bears with 11 rebounds and also tallied five points throughout the victory.
Karisa Grandison and Lauren Chao both registered eight points each.
WashU jumped ahead 19-9 after a solid opening quarter where they shot 44 percent from the field, opening up the game leading 19-5.
Chicago fought its way back into the game momentarily in the second period, after the Bears' offense started off the quarter 0-7 from the field and the Maroons cut the lead down to four at 19-15.
Brooks ignited the Bears' offense with a three from the top of the key, ending the scoring drought and pushing WU back in front by seven. The St. Louis native connected on another triple in the final minute of the quarter, keeping the Bears ahead 30-23 at the break.
WashU shot 55 percent from the field in the third frame and held the Maroons to 29 percent.
UC sliced the deficit down to 32-28, but the Bears answered right back with a critical 9-0 run to push the advantage out to 13 points. The run started with three points from Arnott, followed by layups from Chao and Brooks, and was capped off with a floater in the lane from Molly Gannon.
With the Bears leading 43-36 going into the fourth, WU's offensive production went through Grandison and Arnott, who combined for 14 of the Bears' 22 points in the final frame.
WU shot 7-12 from the floor in the final 10 minutes and also posted its largest lead of the day at 59-41 after a layup from Chao.
The Bears sealed the contest in the closing minutes at the foul line, knocking down all seven of their free throws in the period, as Grandison finished 6-6.
*In addition, at today's game, the Bears were accompanied on the bench by honorary coaching member Chloe Booker of Team Impact, who is currently battling Neuroblastoma.