Chicago, Ill., Jan. 7, 2017 – The No. 5-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season 75-68 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) opener Saturday at the University of Chicago.
Chicago improved to 8-4, 1-0 in the UAA with the win, while WashU dropped to 10-1, 0-1 in the UAA.
Senior Zoe Vernon tied a career-high with 18 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Claudia Smith netted a season-best 11 points. Senior Jenn Dynis added 10 points off the bench. WashU shot 40 percent (26-65) from the field, and hit just 4-of-15 from three-point range.
Sophomore Madeline Homoly added eight points and 11 rebounds, all in the second half, while senior Lilly Sarros had eight points and 10 rebounds. The Bears were outrebounded 38-37.
WashU trailed 6-2 in the opening minutes of the contest after missing seven of its first eight shots from the field. A driving lay-up by sophomore Becca Clark-Callender gave WashU its first lead of the game at 8-6, and then sophomore Rachael Sondag drilled a three from the wing to make it 11-8.
The Bears took their largest lead of the first half after a free-throw by Sondag to make it 14-10. WashU shot 38.9 percent in the first as the game was tied 18-18.
Chicago took a 33-28 lead with 3:42 to play before half on a driving lay-up by Miranda Burt. The Maroons scored the final five points of the second quarter to take a 41-35 lead the break.
Vernon led the Bears with nine points, while Dynis added eight. WashU shot 37.1 percent (13-35) from the field and was outrebounded 23-17.
WashU scored the first six points of the third quarter to knot the score at 41-41, and then a three-pointer by Smith gave the Bears a 44-42 lead. The Bears went ice cold from the field after Smith's bucket and Chicago answered with a 15-1 run to take a 57-45 lead.
Smith connected on a pair of free-throws and Homoly recorded on a lay-up at the buzzer as the Bears trailed 57-49 after three quarters.
Chicago took its largest lead at 66-53 on a lay-up by Taylor Lake with 6:29 to play, but WashU battled back. The Bears went on a 13-2 run to trim the lead to two (68-66) with 2:00 to play after Vernon score seven of the 13 points.
Lake scored 23 points of the bench to lead Chicago, who shot 44.3 percent (27-61) from the field and hit eight three-pointers.
WashU hosts Millikin (7-4) in a non-conference game Monday, Jan. 9, at 2:30 p.m. Concessions will feature $1 hot dogs to all fans in attendance.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Chicago, 49-15, but the Maroons have won the last two meetings … The Bears trailed at the break for the third time this season … WashU is 24-6 all-time in UAA Openers.