Greencastle, Ind., November 21, 2010 – Sophomore Annie Sayers came up with a put-back as time expired to lead the No. 5 Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team to a 58-56 victory over No. 12 DePauw University on Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Neal Fieldhouse in Greencastle, Ind.
Washington University led by eight points after the first half, but a strong second half for DePauw resulted in a two-point Tiger lead with less than one minute to play. DePauw's Katie Matthews made a lay-up to provide DePauw with its first lead of the game with just under 90 seconds remaining.
Following a timeout Washington University came down a senior Hannah Cusworth found classmate Kathryn Berger for a lay-in to knot the score at 56-56. On the ensuing DePauw possession, Washington U. senior guard Alex Hoover blocked another attempt from Matthews and DePauw's Kate Walker missed a jump-shot 10 seconds later which provided Washington University with one final shot to win the game.
Sophomore Kristin Anda missed two lay-ups with under 10 seconds to play, but Sayers came up with the rebound on the second miss, putting it back up and in as time expired to life the Bears to a huge road victory.
DePauw entered Sunday's game with a 50-game home win streak dating back to the 2004 season. Coincidentally Washington University was also the last team to beat them at home six years ago.
Berger finished the game with 15 points, eight rebounds and three three-pointers. Cusworth, Sayers and junior Dani Hoover each scored eight points for the Bears who shot 46.2 percent from the field.
Washington University got off to a great start in the first half and led by as many as 11 points in the opening period before taking an eight-point lead into the half. The Bears opened the game shooting 3-of-5 from three-point range and pulled ahead 11-5 when junior Claire Schaeperkoetter drained a long-range basket with 11:08 to play in the first half. DePauw started the game shooting 1-of-11 from the field.
Another three, this time from Dani Hoover provided Washington U. with a six point cushion 90 seconds later and the Bears managed to stretch that lead thanks to another long scoreless drought for DePauw.
The Tigers went a span of 5:35 without a point in the first half, missing five-straight shots and turning the ball over twice. Waashington University took advantage of DePauw's offensive struggles, moving ahead by eight with a Cusworth lay-up, and stretching the lead to 11 thanks to another three-pointer from Dani Hoover.
Kate Walker drilled a jumper with 1:56 remaining in the first half to put an end to DePauw's scoreless drought, but Cusworth and Berger both score in the final two minutes of action to help the Red and Green take an eight-point lead into the intermission. Berger and Dani Hoover scored eight points apiece to lead the Bears and Washington U. shot 50 percent from the field while holding DePauw to seven field goals and a 26.9 shooting percentage.
Washington U. maintained its comfortable second half lead until the Tigers made a run 10 minutes into the period. DePauw's Ellie Pearson scored seven-straight points in a span of 1:16 to shave Washington University's lead to just two points with just over 10:30 to play. Berger answered with her third triple to put the Bears back up by five, and WUSTL led by as many as six down the stretch.
A 10-2 DePauw run that ended with Matthews' layup provided DePauw with its brief two-point lead before the Bears scored the final four points to escape with a difficult road victory.
Washington University finished the game shooting 46.2 percent from the field compared to 31.7 percent for DePauw, and the Bears made eight three-pointers compare to three for the Tigers. DePauw however held a large advantage from the free-throw line, where they went 15-of-21, while the Bears made just 2-of-3.
Washington U. (2-1) returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 28, when it hosts Augustana College at the Washington University Field House in St. Louis, Mo., at 2 p.m.