Rochester, N.Y., February 3, 2012 – Freshman Melissa Gilkey scored 19 points and freshman Maddy Scheppers added 15 as the No. 8 Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team posted a 60-55 win at No. 5 University of Rochester on Friday night at the Palestra in Rochester, N.Y.
The victory for Washington U. improved its overall record 16-3, 6-2 UAA, and moved the Bears in to a tie for second place with Rochester in the University Athletic Association (UAA) standings. No. 2 ranked University of Chicago won at Emory University 79-55 to remain unbeaten in league play. Washington U. also snapped its four-game losing streak at Rochester, winning for the first time since Feb. 18, 2007.
Gilkey had the hot hand for the Bears in the opening minutes connecting on her first three shots of the game. Gilkey's fast-break lay-up with 15:36 to play gave Washington U. the early 10-4 lead. Senior Bethany Morrison dialed up a three-pointer from the wing to extend the lead to six, and then a three from senior Claire Schaeperkoetter made it 16-9.
The Bears offense went cold for the rest of the half, connecting on just two field goals in the final 12 minutes. A field goal by Jodie Luther with 33 seconds left gave the Yellowjackets a 26-24 halftime lead.
Gilkey led all scorers with seven points, as Washington U. shot 33.3 percent (9-27) from the field in the first half. Washington U. forced 11 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes of play, and Rochester held a 22-18 rebounding advantage.
Gilkey and Scheppers combined to score the first 10 points of the second half for Washington U. as they regained the advantage for good. Gilkey's second three-pointer of the year pushed the WUSTL lead to 34-30 with 16:43 to play. Washington U.'s defense limited Rochester to 2-of-8 shooting with seven turnovers in the opening seven minutes of the second half.
Gilkey's second three-pointer of the game got the lead to 44-39, and then a conventional three-point play by Gilkey pushed the advantage to 47-41 with 8:23 to play. Washington U. got the lead back to eight after a three-pointer by Scheppers and a free-throw by freshman Alexandra Keane, but a pair of three-throws and a three-pointer by Danielle McNabb cut it to three (54-51).
Senior Dani Hoover's floater pushed the lead to five (56-51), and then after a bucket by Rochester, she nailed a pair of three-throws to seal the victory for the Bears. Washington U. shot 52.2 percent from the field in the second half (12-23), and drilled 4-of-6 three-pointers. Scheppers had 13 in the second half to lead the Bears, and also finished with 10 boards for her first career double-double.
Laney Ming was the lone Yellowjackets to score in double figures with 13 points and eight assists. Rochester (17-2, 6-2 UAA) shot 35 percent (21-60) from the field and had 22 turnovers in its first loss of the season at home.
Washington University concludes its two-game road trip at Emory University on Sunday, Feb. 5. Game time is set for 2 p.m. (ET), in Atlanta, Ga.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. is 9-0 this season on the road … The Bears had a season-high 15 steals in the win … Senior Bethany Morrison filled up the stat sheet with six points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals … Gilkey also added seven rebounds and four block in the win.