Senior Dani Hoover scored a career-high 24 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, to lead the 12th-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team to a 70-47 win over Augustana College Friday night on the first day of the 11th Annual McWilliams Classic at the WU Field House.
Washington U. (5-1) will face Wisconsin Lutheran College (4-1) in the championship of the McWilliams Classic at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the WU Field House. Wisconsin Lutheran earned a 62-40 win over Agnes Scott College in Friday's first game. Augustana (4-2) and Agnes Scott (2-4) will play in the McWilliams Classic consolation game at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Augustana gained a 9-6 lead early in the game before sophomore Lucy Montgomery made her first three-pointer of the season to tie the score at 9-9. The Bears opened up a 13-9 lead with 12:28 left in the first half when senior Claire Schaeperkoetter converted a four-point play after being fouled on a made three-pointer. Two minutes later, Washington U. made it a five-point game at 18-13 after a fast-break layup by junior Kristin Anda. The Vikings cut the lead to 21-19 with 7:09 remaining, but Washington U. went on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes, including a three-pointer by Hoover, to open up a 28-19 lead. Another three-pointer by Montgomery gave the Bears a 10-point lead with less than a minute left in the half. After a basket by Augustana, freshman Melissa Gilkey made a three-pointer at the buzzer to extend the lead to 36-25 at halftime.
The Vikings opened the second half with six-straight points to cut the lead to 36-31 with 17:48 remaining. The Bears went on an 8-0 run with four points each by Hoover and sophomore Jordan Rettig, to extend their lead to 13 points. Augustana answered with six-straight points, but three three-pointers by Hoover and a fast-break layup by Gilkey quickly made it 55-37 in favor of the Bears. Augustana cut the lead to 13 at 59-46 with 7:31 left in the game, but Washington U. held the Vikings without a field goal the remainder of the game. An 11-1 run by the Bears, including five points by senior Bethany Morrison, gave Washington U. the 70-47 win.
Washington U. shot a season-best 44.6 percent from the field (25-of-56), including nine three-pointers. The Bears held Augustana to 38.2-percent shooting from the field (21-of-55). Washington U. also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Augustana 44-26 in the game.
Hoover also had five rebounds and two steals to go with her 24 points. Gilkey also finished in double-figures with 11 points and five rebounds. Rettig and Morrison added seven points each, while Montgomery chipped in six. Rettig also had a season-high seven rebounds, while Montgomery finished with a career-high seven assists and Morrison added six assists.