Bloomington, Ill., Nov. 25, 2012 – Thirteen different players scored for the No. 9-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team as the Bears earned an 81-46 win over No. 21 Coe College in the third-place game of the Titan Tip-Off Tournament Sunday afternoon in Bloomington.
Coe took an 11-9 lead with 11:06 remaining in the first half, but Washington U. answered with seven-straight points, including four by sophomore forward Melissa Gilkey to take a 16-11 lead. The Bears held Coe to just four field goals in the final 11 minutes of the half, while making a 27-8 run to head into halftime with a 36-19 lead. Gilkey and sophomore guard Maddy Scheppers both scored in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the half. The Bears also had a 26-15 rebounding advantage in the first half, including an 8-1 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Bears kept the pressure on with an 11-3 run to open the second half, including six points by freshman guard Jordan Thompson. Coe scored five points in a row to cut the Bears' lead to 54-32 midway through the second half, before a 12-0 run by the Bears stretched the lead to 34 (66-32) with 7:09 left. Washington U. finished the game with a 10-2 run to earn the 81-46 win.
Washington U. shot 49.2 percent (32-65) from the field in the game, while holding Coe to 33.9 percent (19-56) shooting. The Bears made a season-high nine three-pointers (9-14), including three by Scheppers and two each by Gilkey and junior guard Lucy Montgomery. Washington U. also tallied a season-best 50 rebounds, finishing with a 50-26 rebounding advantage in the game.
Scheppers scored a team-high 16 points to lead three players in double figures for Washington U. Gilkey added 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Thompson scored 10 points and dished out a season-best five assists in her first start of the season. Junior forward Jordan Rettig led the Bears with a season-high seven rebounds, including four offensive, while senior forward Kristin Anda pulled down six.
Washington U. (3-1) returns to action Saturday, Dec. 1, with a non-conference game at Elmhurst College. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Elmhurst, Ill.
Bear Notebook: Washington University improved to 2-0 all-time against Coe … The win was the 620th career victory for head coach Nancy Fahey (620-113, .846)… Gilkey and Scheppers each scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game this season.