St. Louis, Mo., November 16, 2012 – Four players scored in double figures for the No. 9-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team as the Bears opened the season with a 95-73 win over Buena Vista University on the first day of the 12th Annual McWilliams Classic Friday evening at the WU Field House.
Sophomore guard Maddy Scheppers scored 12 of her career-high 20 points in the first six minutes of the game as Washington U. jumped out to a 16-10 lead to open the game. After a three-pointer by the Beavers cut the lead to 16-13, freshman guard Katybeth Biewen answered with a three-pointer and junior guard Lucy Montgomery hit back-to-back triples to push the Bears' lead to 25-15. Washington U. scored the next 10 points of the game, holding Buena Vista without a basket for nearly five minutes while opening up a 35-15 lead with 8:05 remaining in the first half.
The Bears stretched their lead to as many as 24 (56-32) in the first half on a basket by senior forward Kristin Anda, before heading to halftime with a 56-33 lead. Buena Vista was unable to cut Washington U.'s lead to closer than 20 in the second half. A three-point play by sophomore forward Melissa Gilkey gave the Bears their largest lead of the game (85-56) with 7:23 left in the game.
Washington U. shot 51.4 percent from the field (36-70) in the game, including 56.4 percent in the first half. Buena Vista shot 41.9 percent from the field (26-62) in the game. The Bears out-rebounded Buena Vista, 42-34, and scored 26 points off turnovers by the Beavers.
Scheppers led all scorers with 20 points and also tallied a game-high three steals. Gilkey finished with 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman guard Jordan Thompson added 13 points, while sophomore guard Alyssa Johanson tied her career-high with 12.
Washington U. will take on Ohio Northern University in the McWilliams Classic Championship at 7 p.m. Saturday, while Buena Vista will face Lake Forest College in the consolation game at 5 p.m. Ohio Northern earned a 67-48 win over Lake Forest in the first game Friday evening.
Bear Notebook: Washington University improved to 23-4 in season openers in the 27 seasons under head coach Nancy Fahey … The Bears advanced to the McWilliams Classic Championship game for the 11th time in the 12-year history of the tournament … Washington U.'s 95 points was the most scored by the Bears since a 101-90 win over University of Rochester Jan. 16, 2011 … The Bears improved to 335-32 (.913) all-time at the WU Field House.