St. Louis, Mo., November 15, 2010 – The No. 5 ranked and defending NCAA Division III National Champion Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team opened its title defense with a 77-48 victory over Fontbonne University on Monday night at the Washington University Field House in St. Louis, Mo.

Washington University led by 13 (35-22) at the half, but put the game out of reach by scoring the first 15 points of the second period to take a 50-22 lead with 12:18 to play. Fontbonne missed its first eight shots of the second half and committed seven turnovers before making its first field goal.

Washington U. had three score in double figures in the season-opening win. The Bears were led by freshman Jordan Rettig's 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in her collegiate debut. Senior Alex Hoover also scored 12 points, and added three assists, two blocks and two rebounds, while senior Claire Schaeperkoetter added 12 points off the bench with a pair of three-pointers.

"Jordan Rettig did a nice job in her first game and looks to have a promising career at Washington University," said Washington University head women's basketball coach Nancy Fahey.

Washington U. started slow missing eight of its first nine shots from the field, and held onto a 4-2 lead with 15:14 left after a 15-foot jumper from senior Hannah Cusworth. Schaeperkoetter came off the bench to nail two three-pointers and highlight an 8-2 run as Washington U. built a 16-10 lead with 10:24 remaining.

Fontbonne (0-1) trimmed the lead to 19-17 with 6:02 to play, but the Bears ended the half on a 16-5 run to take a 35-22 lead at halftime. Hoover led the Bears with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the first half, while Rettig added eight points. The Bears 43.8 percent (14-32) from the field in the opening half, but committed 15 turnovers.

Junior point guard Bethany Morrison finished the game with four points and a team-high seven assists to just one turnover. The Bears dominated the glass, holding a 48-31 edge in rebounding and outscored the Griffins 32-20 in the paint.

Washington University (1-0) returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 20, against No. 3 ranked Illinois Wesleyan University at the DePauw University Tip-Off Classic Tournament. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. (ET), in Greencastle, Ind.

"This is a very different team from last year and we have to embrace who we are," Fahey said. "Playing Illinois Wesleyan and DePauw will help us develop our personality."