St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 9, 2014 – The No. 2-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team scored a season-high 91 points and outrebounded No. 20 Emory University 60-19 en route to a 91-55 win over the Eagles in University Athletic Association (UAA) action Sunday afternoon.
Washington U. improved to 18-2 overall and 8-1 in the UAA with the win, while Emory dropped to 15-5 overall and 4-5 in the UAA. The Bears travel to Waltham, Mass., to take on Brandeis University (12-8, 6-3 UAA) at 6 p.m. (ET) Friday, Feb. 14. Washington U. then faces No. 24 New York University (18-2, 7-2 UAA) at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Feb. 16, in New York City. The Bears hold a one-game lead over the Violets in the UAA standings heading into the final five games, and earned a 70-60 victory over NYU Jan. 19 in St. Louis.
Three of Emory's first seven field goals in the game were three-pointers as the Eagles gained a 17-12 lead with 10:36 to play in the opening half. Junior guard Maddy Scheppers accounted for 16 of the Bears' first 17 points in the game, and she made her third three-pointer of the game followed by a pair of bonus free throws to tie the score at 17-17 with 9:38 left in the half. Those five points by Scheppers sparked a 21-2 run for Washington U. over a span of 4:46 as the Bears took a 33-19 lead to break the game open. During the run, Washington U.'s defense limited Emory to 1-of-5 shooting from the field and forced four turnovers, including three steals by the Bears. The Eagles cut the deficit to 12 points twice in the final six minutes of the half, but Washington U. scored its final six points of the half at the free-throw line and took a 47-31 lead into halftime.
Washington U. extended its lead to 24 points (58-34) in the opening 4:02 of the second half as Emory missed its first eight field-goals of the half. After a layup by the Eagles made it 58-36 with 15:03 remaining, Washington U. scored the next five points and a putback by junior forward Melissa Gilkey pushed the Bears' lead to 63-36 with 13:34 to play. Emory got no closer than 23 points the remainder of the game as Washington U. ran away with the 91-55 win.
Washington U. shot 48.3 percent (29-60) from the field in the win, including 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from three-point range. The Bears limited Emory to 28.8 percent (19-66) shooting from the field, including 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from beyond the arc. WUSTL was also 26-of-32 (81.3 percent) at the free-throw line, while Emory finished 10-of-14 (71.4 percent). Washington U. outscored the Eagles 40-20 in the paint and turned 20 offensive rebounds into a 21-5 advantage in second-chance points. The Bears finished with a 60-19 rebounding advantage, including a 20-8 advantage in offensive boards. Washington U. limited Emory to just five rebounds in the second half.
Scheppers scored 16 of her game-high 19 points in the opening 10:22 of the game, and had all 19 points in the first half. She was 3-of-6 from three-point range and 6-of-7 at the free-throw line, and also pulled down six rebounds. Gilkey recorded the 16th double-double of her career with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Senior forward Kristin Anda scored nine points, including 7-of-8 at the free-throw line, and pulled down six rebounds, while sophomore guard Jordan Thompson tallied nine points, six assists and four rebounds. Senior forward Jordan Rettig added seven points and 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. Junior guard Alyssa Johanson had eight points off the bench, and senior guard Jessy Rosen equaled her career-high with seven points and three rebounds in six minutes off the bench.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series against Emory 45-6 … WUSTL's 91 points was the most in a game since a 96-67 win at Chicago Jan. 5, 2013 … The Bears are 17-0 this season when leading at halftime … WUSTL has outrebounded 42 of its last 48 opponents, including 18 out of 20 this season … Gilkey's 15 rebounds was the most by a Washington U. player since Jaimie McFarlin also grabbed 15 in the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship game against Hope College March, 20, 2010 … It was the 15th straight double-digit scoring game for Gilkey this season … Gilkey made her 75th consecutive start.