Senior Claire Schaeperkoetter and junior Annie Sayers scored 17 and 15 points, respectively, to lead the No. 10 ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team to a 61-48 win over University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Thursday in the opening game of the Wartburg Holiday Tournament in Waverly, Iowa.

Four different players scored to put Washington U. up 10-0 in the first four minutes of the contest. The Bears stretched their lead to 16 with a pair of free throws by Sayers to make it 27-11 with 5:32 left in the half. Wisconsin-Oshkosh made two free throws to get to within 27-13 before Washington U. closed the half with an 8-0 run, including back-to-back three-pointers by Schaeperkoetter, to head to the locker room with a 35-13 lead. The Bears held Wisconsin-Oshkosh to just 12.5 percent shooting (3-of-24) in the first half, as the Green Knights scored six of their 13 first-half points from the free-throw line.

In the second half, a layup by Schaeperkoetter extended Washington U.'s lead to 24 points. Wisconsin-Oshkosh went on a 15-6 run to make it 43-28 with 13:26 remaining. A three-pointer by Schaeperkoetter and a pair of free throws by sophomore Jenna Sackman quickly extended the Bears' lead back to 20 points. The Green Knights cut the deficit to single digits at 53-44 with 3:25 left in the game, but the Bears outscored Wisconsin-Oshkosh 8-4 to finish the game with the 61-48 win.

Schaeperkoetter finished one point shy of her career high with 17 points, including a career-best 5-of-8 from three-point range. Sayers added 15 points and five rebounds, while freshman Melissa Gilkey just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Gilkey also had a team-high four blocked shots in the game. Senior Dani Hoover finished with a career-high six assists, while also recording six points and three steals for the Bears.

Washington U. (9-1) shot a season-best 45.7 percent from the field in the game (21-of-46), while holding Wisconsin-Oshkosh (6-5) to 28.8 percent shooting (15-of-52). The Bears made six three-pointers and finished 13-of-17 from the free-throw line. The Green Knights made three three-pointers, while finishing 15-of-24 from the free-throw line. Wisconsin-Oshkosh out-rebounded Washington U. 38-34 in the contest.

The Bears advanced to the Wartburg Holiday Tournament championship game scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday. Washington U. will take on the winner of Thursday's second game between Wartburg College and Westminster College.