Big Ws for Wash U, Whitman

More news about: Centre | Washington U. | Whitman
Feb 08, 2013
Melissa Gilkey and Wash U host Emory and Rochester this weekend
 Photo by Danny Reise, WUSTL Photo Service

Washington U. can jump back into first place in the UAA if the Bears win twice at home this weekend. They are halfway there after topping No. 20 Emory 65-54.

No. 12 Washington U. erased a double-digit deficit with a 19-4 run before the end of the first half. Early in the second half Maddy Scheppers and Melissa Gilkey hit three-pointers in consecutive possessions to put the Bears up seven and they held the Eagles off the rest of the way.

Those two teams are tied for first place in the conference with Rochester, which rolled over Chicago 58-37. Rochester travels to Wash U on Sunday.

Whitman kept its hopes of a conference title alive with a 49-46 overtime win over No. 18 George Fox. The Missionaries are a half-game behind No. 11 Lewis and Clark in the NWC standings. The Pioneers edged past Puget Sound 76-74 behind Kristina Williams' 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Ithaca defeated Hartwick 65-55 in a battle between the Empire 8's top teams. The Bombers have a two-game lead on the Hawks with three to play. New Paltz State topped Buffalo State 71-69 and the Hawks set a new program record for victories (20).

Men's recap

Centre stayed tied atop the SAA standings by fending off Birmingham-Southern 72-62. Centre's Bryon Ellis scored eighteen points and the Colonels shot 47 percent from three (7-for-15). They are tied for first with Rhodes which cruised past Berry 67-47. Rhodes hosts Centre in the regular season finale.

The Rochester men stayed two games in front of Washington U. and Brandeis in the UAA standings. Rochester beat Chicago 68-57 while the Bears edged Emory 68-65 and Brandeis came rallied late to beat Carnegie Mellon 73-68.

No. 24 Cortland State celebrated its Senior Night in a big way as the Red Dragons crushed Oswego State 78-46. Cortland has won 11 straight games.