New York, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2019 – Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball head coach Randi Henderson earned her 200th career victory as the Bears defeated New York University 76-61 on the road Friday evening to extend the WashU winning streak to five games.
The Bears improved to 10-5 overall and remained unbeaten in University Athletic Association play after four games. New York fell to 9-5 overall and 1-3 in UAA contests. WashU continued to excel in rebounding and ball movement during the win streak. The Red & Green held a 46-35 advantage in rebounds and 25-12 difference in assists. The Bears bench also outscored NYU's by a margin of 30-4.
Senior forward Madeline Homoly led the Bears with 27 points on 13-of-17 shooting while corralling 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. In the process, Homoly bypassed Hallie Hutchens (1,090), Zoë Unruh (1,096) and Sarah Goldman (1,105) for 10th-place all-time in program's scoring with 1,115 points.
Senior guard Caroline Ballard led the Bears' bench with 10 points while freshman forward Samantha Weaver (7) and junior center Kristina Schmelter (6) added multiple baskets. Senior guard Rachael Sondag totaled three three-pointers to tie a season-high with nine points.
Sondag got the scoring under way with a three-pointer just over a minute into play. Homoly scored WashU's next six points to help the Bears take a 9-4 lead. Weaver converted a three-point play to keep WashU ahead by five points before Ballard hit a shot from beyond the arc, as Schmelter hit a mid-range jumper for the Bears final points and a 17-13 first quarter lead.
Homoly dished the ball to freshman guard Hayley Semple for a triple on the opening possession of the second quarter. With 4:08 to go in the quarter Schmelter helped the Bears to a double digit lead, 30-19. Freshman guard Isabelle Hren scored WashU's final five points of the half with a three-pointer and a second-chance layup as the Bears led 38-25.
WashU held a 38-25 lead with Homoly totaling 12 of the Bears points on 6-of-7 shooting. Four Bears, Ballard (6), Hren (5), Weaver (5) and Schmelter (4), scored 20 of the Bears points off the bench.
The Violets pulled within six points with 5:50 left in the fourth quarter, 62-56. WashU went on a 9-0 run, including multiple baskets by Homoly and a trey by Semple. The Bears limited NYU to five points down the stretch.
Overall, WashU held the Violets to 29.7 percent shooting from the field (19-64). The Bears shot 47 percent from the field (31-66) including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. Senior guard Becca Clark-Callender led the Bears with seven assists, while Homoly and Sondag each recorded four themselves.
NYU's Janean Cuffee led all scorers with 28 points, while Katie Foos added 15 for the Violets.
WashU continues its UAA road weekend against Brandeis University on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. (ET). Be sure to stay up to date on all the Bears scores and awards by following @WashUBears on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.