Rochester, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2013 - The No. 3-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team shot a season-low 25.8 percent from the field as the University of Rochester upset the Bears, 56-48, in University Athletic Association (UAA) action Sunday afternoon.
Washington U. led the first 30 minutes of the game, including a nine-point halftime lead. The Bears were held scoreless through the first five minutes of the second half, and Rochester rallied to tie the score (36-36) with 10:15 left in the game. After Rochester took a three-point lead (41-38) with 8:13 to play, sophomore guard Alyssa Johanson made back-to-back baskets to regain the lead (42-41) for Washington U. The Yellowjackets answered with a basket on their next possession, and finished the game with a 15-6 run over the final 6:30 to beat the Bears, 56-48.
The Bears started 1-of-12 from the field to open the game, before a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Melissa Gilkey and a basket by sophomore center Steph Vukotic gave Washington U. a 7-2 lead with 13:00 left in the first half. After Rochester cut the lead to two (15-13) with 9:34 left in the half, the Bears went on a 9-2 run to build a nine-point lead with 6:07 on the clock. The Yellowjackets cut the lead to seven, but freshman guard Katybeth Biewen got a steal and a layup just before the halftime buzzer to take a 28-19 lead into halftime.
Washington U. shot just 25.8 percent (17-of-66) from the field in the game, while Rochester finished slightly better at 32.8 percent (19-of-58). The Bears made 10-of-11 free throws, while the Yellowjackets finished 15-of-22 from the charity stripe. Washington U. outrebounded Rochester 49-43, but had 18 turnovers, including 13 steals by the Yellowjackets.
Gilkey was the only player in double figures for the Bears, recording her fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, while also tallying two blocked shots. Johanson added six points, and senior forward Kristin Anda pulled down eight rebounds.
Washington U. (12-2, 2-1 UAA) returns to action Friday, Jan. 18 in their first home UAA game of the season at 6 p.m. against New York University (8-6, 1-2 UAA). The Bears then host Brandeis University (7-7, 1-2 UAA) at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at the WU Field House.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series against Rochester, 40-12, including nine wins for the Yellowjackets in Rochester … Gilkey has scored in double-figures all 14 games this season, and the past 17 in a row in her career … Gilkey's two blocks brought her career total to 53, which is just six shy of entering Washington University's all-time top-10 list.