Junior Annie Sayers scored a career-high 17 points and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds to lead the No. 10-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team to a 54-44 win over Webster University on Saturday afternoon at the WU Field House.
Sayers, with her 17 points and nine rebounds, was one of four Washington U. players to just miss double-doubles in the game. Senior Dani Hoover finished with nine points and matched her career-high with 11 rebounds, while junior Kristin Anda added nine points and nine rebounds. Freshman Melissa Gilkey had a career-high 12 rebounds to go with her eight points in the game.
Washington U. (8-1) took an 8-4 lead early in the game off a basket by Hoover, but the Gorloks went on an 8-0 run to take a 12-8 lead with 13:20 left in the half. The Bears broke their five-minute scoring drought with a basket by Gilkey, before tying the score at 12-12 on a jumper by Sayers. Webster (1-7) opened up its largest lead of the half (19-14) with 5:46 remaining, before Washington U. scored 10-straight points to regain a 24-19 lead with 2:08 left in the period. The Gorloks were able to cut the deficit to one (26-25) at halftime.
In the second half, the Bears opened up a 35-29 lead on a layup by Sayers after back-to-back baskets by freshman Maddy Scheppers. Webster battled back to tie the score at 37-37 with 8:04 remaining in the game, but Washington U. went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead for good. After a second-chance layup by Gilkey gave the Bears a 47-42 lead, Webster cut it to three with 1:40 left in the game. The Bears answered with a three-pointer by senior Bethany Morrison to regain a six-point advantage, and sealed the win with a basket by Gilkey and two free throws by Scheppers.
Washington U. shot 35.6 percent from the field, while Webster shot 31.6 percent. The Bears shot just 40 percent from the free-throw line (10-of-25), while Webster made four of its six free-throw attempts in the game. Washington U. had a huge advantage on the glass, finishing with 56 rebounds, including 26 offensive boards, while Webster finished with 32 total rebounds.
Washington U. will return to action at the Wartburg Holiday Tournament in Waverly, Iowa, on Dec. 29-30. The Bears are scheduled to take on University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 3 p.m. on Dec. 29. The tournament host Wartburg University will face Westminster College in the other game on Dec. 29.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: Washington U.'s 56 rebounds was a season-high for the team ... The Bears scored 15 second-chance points off their 26 offensive rebounds ... Sayers' previous career-high of 16 points was set against Webster on Dec. 18, 2010 ... Washington U. now holds a 12-1 lead in the all-time series against Webster.